Alstroemeria Mauve Majesty

Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' is part of a series of hybrids selected in the United States for their exceptional hardiness. It is probably the very first 'pink' variety capable of withstanding our normal winters, with or without protective mulch, when grown in properly drained soil. Its flowers, a lovely mauve-pink with cream markings and purple streaks in the throat, bloom tirelessly throughout the summer on sturdy flower stems that are not very tall, giving this compact plant an beautiful appearance in beds and sunny borders. You can also create beautiful bouquets with its flowers: they last for 15 days in a vase!

Alstroemerias, belonging to the Alstroemeriaceae family, are perennial plants with tuberous roots native to South America. The hardiest varieties, like A. aurantiaca, which are better adapted to our climates, come from the Chilean Andes and Patagonia. These high-altitude plants are relatively hardy and prefer cool, well-drained soil in lightly wooded and fresh areas. Slow to establish, the Peruvian lilies can disappear or... become invasive! Quirky but fantastic plants, very sensitive to growing conditions, they are "indestructible" when you find the right spot for them. Horticulturists have been working for a few years to develop more reliable and resistant varieties for our wet and cold winters. The 'Mauve Majesty' cultivar comes from a selection program developed in the USA by Cornell University, in New York. According to its creator, Mark Bridgen, 'Mauve Majesty'  is his best achievement to date.

'Mauve Majesty', introduced in 2007, quickly forms dense, compact, non-suckering clumps that look very neat and tidy. They consist of sturdy leafy stems reaching about 65-68 cm (26-27in) in height when in bloom, with a spread of 50 cm. The flowering takes place from June-July to late September, and is continuous if the soil remains moist. The 4 cm (2in) wide open flowers, are gathered in terminal umbels. They are composed of 3 small central petals in lavender lilac pink, heavily speckled with cream towards the base, streaked with brown-purple, surrounded by 3 larger petals of the same mauve-pink. Each plant can produce at least 30 flowers. The foliage is arranged on the upper part of the stems. The leaves of this variety are an elegant satin dark green shade. The foliage and stems disappear in winter, leaving only the slightly creeping stump with fleshy roots underground. This stump is sensitive to transplantation shock, especially in mature plants.

 Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' with its stout habit and long flowering period, creates a magnificent display when well established in a border, in a container on the patio or on a partially shaded slope. In the garden, it will be enhanced in front of a dark green evergreen backdrop made of boxwood or holly. This exotic-looking plant will also pair well, for example, with the small white flowers of chamomile or the blue blooms of perennial flax. It can also be associated with grasses; Stipa, small Miscanthus, or Muhlenbergia capillaris will accompany its late summer flowering with their magnificent foliage and blooms.