Alstroemeria - This perennial flower is originally from South America. There are about 75 wild plant species that in nature reach up to 1 meter in height. And cultivated varieties, which number about 200, grow up to 2 m in height. In Alstroemeria flowers reach 5 cm in diameter and they are of different colors. The most common colors are white, red, orange, purple, green, and each of them necessarily has spots on the petals. In botany, the shape of the flowers of alstroemeria is called zygomorph - two-sided symmetrical. They gather in complex umbrellas of 10-25 flowers.
Alstroemeria is cut in water for about 2 weeks, which is surprising for its bright and delicate flowers. In growing this plant is unpretentious, will grow in open ground and pot. In floristics Alstroemeria is often used to create bouquets and compositions. It has almost no smell, so it can be part of complex flower arrangements.
Alstroemeria has numerous varieties, some of which are more common. What are they characterized by, what features do they have? Knowing this, you can understand why they are popular with gardeners and florists.
Alicia
Alstroemeria Alicia is a hybrid plant. The flowers are like a rose or chrysanthemum. Alicia - a flower of white and pink, grows a bush. It blooms from June to September.
Did you know? Alstromeria is planted in well-lit areas, the distance between cultures should be at least 30 cm, and they are buried in the soil by 20-25 cm.
Brazilian lily
The next representative of Alstroemeria is very high - reaches a height of 2 m. It comes from sunny Brazil and is called the Alstroemeria Brazilian or Brazilian lily. Its leaves are spear-shaped. She has fluffy inflorescences, which may contain more than 30 flowers. The Brazilian lily is blooming with reddish-bronze flowers.
Beauty
Alstroemeria Beauty has lilac flowers, sometimes they have a bluish-purple hue. It blooms in spring and re-blooms from September. This is a tall variety of alstroemeria, it reaches 130-170 cm. It has powerful straight stems.
Did you know? Alstroemeria propagated by seed and division of rhizome. When sowing seeds, the first flowering of the crop should be expected not earlier than in 3 years.
Virginia
The variety of Alstroemeria Virginia has high (up to 70 cm) strong shoots. Large white flowers bloom on them. They have a slight waviness along the edge of the petals. Flowering of this variety begins in June and may last until the November frosts.
Did you know? Alstroemeria Virginia is one of the largest varieties.
Golden
Alstroemeria golden in the wild is found in the forests of southern beech and on semi-covered Chilean meadows. It grows up to 90 centimeters in height. Alstroemeria this variety blooms with dark orange flowers, which are often used in compositions in flower salons. This flower is also used as a hair ornament.
Canaria
Canaria is a tall variety of Alstroemeria, with thick stems and dense foliage. They grow above one and a half meters. The flowers of Alstroemeria Canaria are yellow with small specks. The flowering variety Canaria begins in March and lasts through June. But also comes the second wave of flowering - in the first half of autumn, September and October.
Plants are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, and their yield is 60-100 pieces per meter.
King cardinal
Grade King Cardinal in height reaches 150 cm. When there is insufficient light, the instability of the stems is observed, they can lie down. Alstroemeria of this variety has red flowers of beautiful shape. Outwardly, they look like orchids.
The main flowering occurs in spring, but it can also be repeated in the fall and winter.
Important! For Alstroemeria in the garden you need to find a sunny place. The soil must be nutritious and well drained.
Blood flowered
Blood-flowered Alstroemeria has fleshy roots. Originally from Chile. In height the plant reaches up to 1 meter. Alstroemeria of this variety has inflorescences with the number of flowers up to 15 pieces. Their color is orange with yellow spots.
Important! In late autumn, it is necessary to cut off the entire above-ground part of the plant and cover it well with a sheet, film, sprinkle it with earth. Since Alstroemeria is a perennial plant, you need to take care so that it endures winter well.
Orange queen
Bush Alstroemeria Orange Queen has an upright stem up to 70 cm. The roots are fleshy, branched. The leaves of the plant are turned upside down. The flowers on long peduncles have apricot color, and there are brown spots on the petals.
White wings
White Alstroemeria is a White Wings variety. The surprisingly beautiful shape of the flowers and their white color made this plant desirable for many florists. White Wings is a tall flower that grows up to 2 m. It has large leaves, strong stems. It blooms all summer with a break of only a few weeks in July or August.
There are a lot of varieties of Alstromeria, and each of them is beautiful in its own way. Grow them for cutting or for decorating home gardens.
