While most alstroemeria plants either hate heat, hate cold, or take over the garden, our trials have found several selections that make great summer-flowering sun perennials. Many of our alstroemeria lilies are hybrids from Mark Brigden's wonderful breeding program while he was at the University of Connecticut (now at Cornell). In addition to their excellent garden performance, our alstroemeria plants make superb long-lasting cut flowers.
Read More About Alstroemeria
The South American genus Alstroemeria prefers a sunny, well drained site. They perform best with regular watering. Some hybrid alstroemeria lilies go semi-dormant in the summer, and despite the heat require less water than in spring. Alstroemeria lily flowers attract hummingbirds and once established, the plants are drought-tolerant.
Our alstroemeria selections vary in height. Some of our alstroemeria were originally bred for the cut flower industry and are tall, while others were bred for container culture and have a shorter habit. Alstroemeria flowers can be white, pink, red, peach, salmon or orange in color. The throat of Alstroemeria flowers almost always has dark flecks on a light colored background.
If you live in the Southeast and are looking to buy alstroemeria then you can't go wrong with our specially selected heat/humidity/cold tolerant cultivars. When you are ready to buy alstroemeria for your garden, check out our online list of alstroemeria for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
We are pleased to share this wonderful introduction from the breeding program of Mark Bridgen of Cornell University. Alstroemeria 'Freedom' boasts similar heat- and cold-tolerance to that of Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura'. The winter rosettes of green foliage give rise from June through September to 30" tall spikes of peachy red flowers (RHS 53D), highlighted at the tip of the uppermost two petals with a bold white pattern speckled with carmine...a hummingbird delight. Alstroemeria 'Freedom' has proven to be much more of a clumper in contrast to the more common runner, Alstroemeria psittacina. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Inca Ice') Alstroemeria 'Koice', from Holland's Könst Alstroemeria, has been a star in our trials as well as at Walters Gardens in Michigan. For us, the clumping Alstroemeria 'Koice' begins flowering in early June and continues nonstop until frost. The 18" tall stalks of Inca Ice princess lily are topped with clusters of light peach flowers highlighted with cinnamon flecks...a hummingbird treat. In 2011, Alstroemeria 'Koice' sailed through -12 degrees F in western Michigan! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This 2007 introduction from Cornell's Mark Bridgen makes a compact clumper, topped from mid-June through September with abundant clusters of 30" tall, sturdy, upright spikes that end in rosy-pink flowers, two petals of which are highlighted with a yellow base. Because Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' makes a tight clump, it is perfect for a small space in a small garden. Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' has been a great performer in our trials, and a hummingbird hangout. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Zaprifabi') Alstroemeria 'Princess Fabiana' from Holland's Van Zanten Plants is one of the standouts in our heat-tolerant alstroemeria trials. Alstroemeria 'Princess Fabiana' is a lovely white-bordered sport of Alstroemeria 'Princess Paola' (aka Stapripal). The 10" tall dwarf clumps, which were actually bred for the container plant market, are topped starting in early summer with creamy white flowers with burgundy markings. When summer temperatures rise, flowering slows until the weather cools. As is so often the case, the plants were given nonsensical names, so we used their illegal trade names as the cultivar names. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Zaprimat') Alstroemeria 'Princess Mathilde' is another of the rock garden alstroemeria hybrids that stood out in our trials. Alstroemeria 'Princess Mathilde', discovered as a sport of Alstroemeria 'Princess Zavina', forms a 10" tall x 18" wide patch topped in summer with large peachy-orange flowers flecked with burgundy...quite showy. While the princess series Alstroemeria selections we offer are good in hot climates, they are that much better in areas with cool summers. If they aren't hardy in your zone, alstroemerias make fantastic summer container plants for the patio. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Staprioxa') Alstroemeria 'Princess Oxana' is another of the rock garden alstroemeria hybrids that stood out in our trials for both heat and cold tolerance. This 2002 introduction from Holland's Van Zanten Plants forms a compact clump 10" tall x 18" wide, topped, starting in midsummer, with large rosy-red flowers, highlighted by a central yellow band with brown bands in the background. For us, flowering slows during the hottest part of summer, but resumes when the weather cools...great in the rock garden or in colorful summer containers. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This Japanese selection improves on the native Brazilian species with dramatic, white-edged leaves. This winter-grower makes a spreading mass of attractive foliage to 15" tall x 3' wide in 6 years (much slower than the species). In June, the flowering stems erupt to nearly 3', each topped with narrow tubular flowers speckled maroon and green...a hummingbird magnet. After flowering, the clump goes semi-dormant for the summer, re-emerging in September. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
From Mark Bridgen at Cornell University comes this extraordinarily hardy and fragrant princess lily. The winter rosettes of green foliage give rise from June through September to 30" tall stems of golden flowers, highlighted with orange tips and cinnamon specks. The sweet fragrance of the abundant floral display makes this a must for the summer border...and is a hummingbird magnet. In our climate, many princess lilies die of heat stroke when they experience our summers, but not Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura'. Once established, this Alstroemeria caryophyllaea hybrid spreads very slowly, unlike many of the more aggressive species. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Although it sounds more like a cheap breakfast drink from the 1960s, Alstroemeria 'Tangerine Tango' is actually the latest from the breeding work of Cornell's Mark Bridgen, making it the orange-flowered counterpart to Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura'. This vigorous grower makes a 3' wide patch, topped with 30" tall spikes that end in clusters of narrow-petaled bright orange flowers, highlighted by a yellow blotch and cinnamon flecks. For us, flowering begins in mid-June and continues all summer...a constant treat for hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Alstroemeria 'The Third Harmonic' is an amazing hybrid from California breeder George Hare that is little known outside of the West Coast. After several years in our trials, it has ranked as one of our top performers. This sterile cross of Alstroemeria 'Peach Harmony' and Alstroemeria aurantiaca is a vigorous grower topped virtually all summer with 4' tall flower stalks with clusters of large, medium orange flowers, each with a purple-flecked lip...a hummingbird favorite. The back of the petals also have a lovely contrasting burnt-maroon flush. Whether you enjoy it in the garden or indoors as a cut flower, this is a real winner! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
