Alstroemeria Majestic Marcé

The Alstroemeria Majestic 'Marcé' is part of a series of vigorous and hardy Inca lilies, with a beautiful stature and abundant flowering, whose long flower stems are perfect for cut flowers. This variety, Marcé, offers numerous beautiful raspberry pink lilies, enhanced by a pale yellow heart delicately striped with dark brown. It is a perennial plant that grows year after year if given a rich and well-draining soil and regular watering during dry periods. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade, in a sheltered flower bed that protects the stems from strong winds.

Alstroemerias, belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, are tuberous perennial plants native to South America. The hardiest ones, like A. aurantiaca, are native to the Chilean Andes and Patagonia. Sometimes slow to establish, Inca lilies can disappear or... become invasive! They are whimsical but fantastic plants, very sensitive to growing conditions, and they are "indestructible" once you find the right spot for them. Horticulturists have been working in recent years to develop more reliable and resistant varieties for our wet and cold winters. The Majestics series was developed near Angers. It brings together tall hybrids that can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C if the base of the plant is protected from moisture.

The Alstroemeria 'Majestics Marcé' quickly forms dense clumps from spring onwards, with numerous leafy stems reaching approximately 85 cm (34in) in height when in bloom, with a similar spread. The flowering period lasts from June to October, continuously if the soil remains moist. Each flower stem carries several 5-6 cm (2in) flowers, gathered in terminal umbels. They consist of 3 small central petals striped with brown on a pale yellow and white background, surrounded by 3 slightly wider petals of a rich pink colour, with a satin-like appearance. The foliage is abundant and distributed along the stems. The leaves are dark greenish-blue. The foliage and stems disappear in winter, leaving only the slightly creeping base with fleshy roots underground. This base is sensitive to transplantation shock, especially in older plants.

The Alstroemeria 'Marcé' is a beautiful border plant with lovely flowers that last a long time in a vase, up to 2 weeks if you change the water daily and trim the stems occasionally. When well-established, this exuberant plant offers a magnificent spectacle. In the garden, Alstroemeria Majestics pairs well, for example, with smaller-statured agapanthus ('Golden Drop', 'Silver Moon'). It can also be associated with ornamental grasses, which complement its flowering; Stipa, small Miscanthus, or Muhlenbergia capillaris will accompany its foliage and delicate blooms. In a large flower pot, you can combine this colourful variety with blue lobelias or with 'Diamond Frost' Euphorbia, for example.