Growing Peruvian Lilies – Information On Peruvian Lily Flower Care

Starting Peruvian lily bulbs, which are widely available online or in home and garden centers, is the easiest way of growing Peruvian lilies, although they can also be started from seed.

Alstroemeria

Lily-of-the-Incas or Peruvian Lily is a herbaceous perennial that can be grown as an outdoor perennial in the more temperate climates, or as a container plant that can be brought in for the winter months. It can also be planted in the ground in cooler climates and dug up to be brought in during the winter and kept in a cool, moist location. Caution is recommended when digging, as the roots are very brittle and subject to damage. This plant dislikes dividing.

When planting, spread the finger-like roots over a mound of soil, then cover roots with additional soil. When left in the ground, the roots will spread to form a colony.

There are both tall and short (dwarf) varieties available. The tall selections, with their sturdy stems, are excellent for cut flowers, the short do well when container gardening, but may still need to be staked for support.

There is a wide variety of colors to choose from, and often the petals are striated or flecked with contrasting colors.

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: There are few diseases and pest issues with these plants. If aphids, spider mites or whiteflies appear, it is probably due to over or under-watering. In that case, root rot may appear, and snails may affect the plants’ overall health. Yellowing leaves may be an indication of under-watering. This plant can cause contact dermatitis in some people.

See this plant in the following landscapes: Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade GardenJuniper Level Botanic Gardens: Parking Lot Berms Cultivars / Varieties:

• ‘Annica’
  Purple flower – 24″
• ‘Antarctica’
  White flower – 12-24″
• ‘Apollo’
  White-yellow flowers – 32-40″
• ‘Azula’
  Purple flowers – 32-38″
• ‘Bali’
  Golden-apricot flowers – 32″
• ‘Butterscotch’
  Pinkish/apricot flowers – 36-48″
• ‘Cahors’
  Pink-yellow flowers.‘Casablanca’
  White flower – 32-40″
• ‘Celine’
  Pale pink, yellow flowers.
• ‘Cerise’
  Pale pink flower – 24″
• ‘Champagne’
  Antique white – 36-48″
• ‘Cleo’
  Purple flowers – 32″
• ‘Colorita’
• ‘Colorita Ariane’
  Yellow, dwarf variety.
• ‘Colorita Claire’
  Snowy white. Dwarf variety.
• ‘Colorita Elaine’
  Pink with gold and maroon dots and dashes. Dwarf variety.
• ‘Compact Red’
  Cherry red flowers – 18-24″
• ‘Coronet’
  Salmon/yellow flowers.
• ‘Dr. Salter’s hybrids’
• ‘Dusty Rose’
  Pale pink/yellow flowers – 30″
• ‘Dwarf Fuchsia’
  Fuchsia flower – 15-22″
• ‘Elvira’
  Off-white flowers – 30-36″
• ‘Flaming Star’
  Orange flower – 32″
• ‘Fougere’
  White/purple flower – 24-36″
• ‘Freedom’
  Pink/pale yellow flower – 24-30″
• ‘Friendship’
  Yellow flushed pink flowers – 20″
• ‘Glory of the Andes’
  Yellow/rust tip flowers – 32-38″
• ‘Henry’s Violet’
  Violet flowers – 36″
• ‘Inca Bandit’
  Deep salmon flower – 15-18″ – Dwarf variety
• ‘Inca Glow’
  Pink flower – 16-18″
• ‘Inca Ice’
  Pale pink flower – 24-32″
• ‘Inca Joli’
  Orange/red flower – 16-20″
• ‘Inca Lake’
  Pale purple flower – 12-16″
• ‘Inca Lolly’
  Deep pink flower – 12″ dwarf
• ‘Inca Mambo’
  Orange/yellow flower – 16-18″
• ‘Inca Pulse’
  Deep orange flower – 18-24″
• ‘Inca Sweety’
  White/pink flower – 12″ dwarf
• ‘Inca Tropic’
  Bright orange/yellow flower – 24-28″
• ‘Inca Vito’
  Red flower – 8-10″ dwarf
• ‘Indian Summer’
  Orange-yellow flowers – Variegated foliage – 24-28″
• ‘Koice’
  Light peach flowers – 18″
• ‘Koncajoli’
  Orange/red flower – 12-24″
• ‘Lavender Blush’
  Pink-lilac-rose flowers – 30″
• ‘Magic White’
  White flower – 12-24″
• ‘Margaret’
  Bright pink/yellow flowr – 40-48″
• ‘Marjorie’s Hybrid’
  Mauve-salmon-gold flowers – 30″
• ‘Mars’
  Scarlet flowers – 24-36″
• ‘Mauve Majesty’
  Purple/white flower – 30″
• ‘Meyer’s Rose’
  Pink flowers – 30″
• ‘Moulin Rouge’
  Orange/yellow flower – 20-28″
• ‘Nehi Grape’
  Purple/white flower – 12-18″
• ‘Orange Gem’
  Orange flowers
• ‘Orange Glory’
  Orange flowers.
• ‘Oriana’
  Salmon/yellow flowers.
• ‘Pacific Sunset’
  Apricot 36″, Dark Pink 24″, Hot Pink 18-24″, Medium Pink 24″ and Peachy Orange 36-42″
• ‘Patricia Lynn’
• ‘Patricia Lynn’
  Bright pink – 24″
• ‘Perfect Orange’
  Orange flower – 36-42″
• ‘Prima Donna’
  Pasta poink flower – 24-36″
• ‘Princes Ariane’
  Butter-yellow flowers – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Amina’
  Orange flowers – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Angela’
  Bright pink flower – 9-12″
• ‘Princess Anouska’
  Purple/white flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Diana’
  Bright yellow flower – 8-12″
• ‘Princess Eliane’
  Bright pink flower – 9-12″
• ‘Princess Fabiana’
  Cream flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Felicia’
  Yellow flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Ivana’
  Rosy pink flower – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Letizia’
  Deep red blooms with yellow throats.
• ‘Princess Louise’
  Purple/pink flower – 8-12′
• ‘Princess Mathilde’
  Peachy-orange flower – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Sara’
  Pale orange flowers with pink and yellow highlights – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Victoria’
  Coral-yellow flowers – 30″
• ‘Rachael’
  Purple flowers – 24″
• ‘Red Sensation’
  Red flower – 30″
• ‘Red Valley’
  Red-scarlet – 30″
• ‘Saturne’
  Coral-pink flower – 24-36″
• ‘Summer Breeze’
  Orange-yellow blossoms, variegated foliage.
• ‘Sunlight’
  Creamy-yellow flower – 12-24″
• ‘Sussex Gold’
  Golden-yellow flowers. 32-38″.
• ‘Sweet Laura’
  Yellow with orange-red flower – 24-30″
• ‘Tessa’
  Hot pink flower – 40-48″
• ‘The Third Harmonic’
  Golden yellow flower – 30-42″
• ‘Variegata’
  Green/burgandy flower – 15-30″. Variegated leaves.
• ‘Watermellon’
  Pink/yellow flower – 28-36″
• ‘Yellow Friendship’
  Yellow flower – 32-40″

‘Annica’, ‘Antarctica’, ‘Apollo’, ‘Azula’, ‘Bali’, ‘Butterscotch’, ‘Cahors’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Celine’, ‘Cerise’, ‘Champagne’, ‘Cleo’, ‘Colorita’, ‘Colorita Ariane’, ‘Colorita Claire’, ‘Colorita Elaine’, ‘Compact Red’, ‘Coronet’, ‘Dr. Salter’s hybrids’, ‘Dusty Rose’, ‘Dwarf Fuchsia’, ‘Elvira’, ‘Flaming Star’, ‘Fougere’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Friendship’, ‘Glory of the Andes’, ‘Henry’s Violet’, ‘Inca Bandit’, ‘Inca Glow’, ‘Inca Ice’, ‘Inca Joli’, ‘Inca Lake’, ‘Inca Lolly’, ‘Inca Mambo’, ‘Inca Pulse’, ‘Inca Sweety’, ‘Inca Tropic’, ‘Inca Vito’, ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Koice’, ‘Koncajoli’, ‘Lavender Blush’, ‘Magic White’, ‘Margaret’, ‘Marjorie’s Hybrid’, ‘Mars’, ‘Mauve Majesty’, ‘Meyer’s Rose’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Nehi Grape’, ‘Orange Gem’, ‘Orange Glory’, ‘Oriana’, ‘Pacific Sunset’, ‘Patricia Lynn’, ‘Patricia Lynn’, ‘Perfect Orange’, ‘Prima Donna’, ‘Princes Ariane’, ‘Princess Amina’, ‘Princess Angela’, ‘Princess Anouska’, ‘Princess Diana’, ‘Princess Eliane’, ‘Princess Fabiana’, ‘Princess Felicia’, ‘Princess Ivana’, ‘Princess Letizia’, ‘Princess Louise’, ‘Princess Mathilde’, ‘Princess Sara’, ‘Princess Victoria’, ‘Rachael’, ‘Red Sensation’, ‘Red Valley’, ‘Saturne’, ‘Summer Breeze’, ‘Sunlight’, ‘Sussex Gold’, ‘Sweet Laura’, ‘Tessa’, ‘The Third Harmonic’, ‘Variegata’, ‘Watermellon’, ‘Yellow Friendship’ Tags: #purple#bulb#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#salmon#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#orange flowers#salmon flowers#interiorscape#spring flowers#long-lasting flowers#summer flowers#tender perennials#deer resistant#summer bulbs#cutting garden#spring interest#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#contact dermatitis#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#perennial

Cultivars / Varieties:

• ‘Annica’
  Purple flower – 24″
• ‘Antarctica’
  White flower – 12-24″
• ‘Apollo’
  White-yellow flowers – 32-40″
• ‘Azula’
  Purple flowers – 32-38″
• ‘Bali’
  Golden-apricot flowers – 32″
• ‘Butterscotch’
  Pinkish/apricot flowers – 36-48″
• ‘Cahors’
  Pink-yellow flowers.‘Casablanca’
  White flower – 32-40″
• ‘Celine’
  Pale pink, yellow flowers.
• ‘Cerise’
  Pale pink flower – 24″
• ‘Champagne’
  Antique white – 36-48″
• ‘Cleo’
  Purple flowers – 32″
• ‘Colorita’
• ‘Colorita Ariane’
  Yellow, dwarf variety.
• ‘Colorita Claire’
  Snowy white. Dwarf variety.
• ‘Colorita Elaine’
  Pink with gold and maroon dots and dashes. Dwarf variety.
• ‘Compact Red’
  Cherry red flowers – 18-24″
• ‘Coronet’
  Salmon/yellow flowers.
• ‘Dr. Salter’s hybrids’
• ‘Dusty Rose’
  Pale pink/yellow flowers – 30″
• ‘Dwarf Fuchsia’
  Fuchsia flower – 15-22″
• ‘Elvira’
  Off-white flowers – 30-36″
• ‘Flaming Star’
  Orange flower – 32″
• ‘Fougere’
  White/purple flower – 24-36″
• ‘Freedom’
  Pink/pale yellow flower – 24-30″
• ‘Friendship’
  Yellow flushed pink flowers – 20″
• ‘Glory of the Andes’
  Yellow/rust tip flowers – 32-38″
• ‘Henry’s Violet’
  Violet flowers – 36″
• ‘Inca Bandit’
  Deep salmon flower – 15-18″ – Dwarf variety
• ‘Inca Glow’
  Pink flower – 16-18″
• ‘Inca Ice’
  Pale pink flower – 24-32″
• ‘Inca Joli’
  Orange/red flower – 16-20″
• ‘Inca Lake’
  Pale purple flower – 12-16″
• ‘Inca Lolly’
  Deep pink flower – 12″ dwarf
• ‘Inca Mambo’
  Orange/yellow flower – 16-18″
• ‘Inca Pulse’
  Deep orange flower – 18-24″
• ‘Inca Sweety’
  White/pink flower – 12″ dwarf
• ‘Inca Tropic’
  Bright orange/yellow flower – 24-28″
• ‘Inca Vito’
  Red flower – 8-10″ dwarf
• ‘Indian Summer’
  Orange-yellow flowers – Variegated foliage – 24-28″
• ‘Koice’
  Light peach flowers – 18″
• ‘Koncajoli’
  Orange/red flower – 12-24″
• ‘Lavender Blush’
  Pink-lilac-rose flowers – 30″
• ‘Magic White’
  White flower – 12-24″
• ‘Margaret’
  Bright pink/yellow flowr – 40-48″
• ‘Marjorie’s Hybrid’
  Mauve-salmon-gold flowers – 30″
• ‘Mars’
  Scarlet flowers – 24-36″
• ‘Mauve Majesty’
  Purple/white flower – 30″
• ‘Meyer’s Rose’
  Pink flowers – 30″
• ‘Moulin Rouge’
  Orange/yellow flower – 20-28″
• ‘Nehi Grape’
  Purple/white flower – 12-18″
• ‘Orange Gem’
  Orange flowers
• ‘Orange Glory’
  Orange flowers.
• ‘Oriana’
  Salmon/yellow flowers.
• ‘Pacific Sunset’
  Apricot 36″, Dark Pink 24″, Hot Pink 18-24″, Medium Pink 24″ and Peachy Orange 36-42″
• ‘Patricia Lynn’
• ‘Patricia Lynn’
  Bright pink – 24″
• ‘Perfect Orange’
  Orange flower – 36-42″
• ‘Prima Donna’
  Pasta poink flower – 24-36″
• ‘Princes Ariane’
  Butter-yellow flowers – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Amina’
  Orange flowers – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Angela’
  Bright pink flower – 9-12″
• ‘Princess Anouska’
  Purple/white flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Diana’
  Bright yellow flower – 8-12″
• ‘Princess Eliane’
  Bright pink flower – 9-12″
• ‘Princess Fabiana’
  Cream flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Felicia’
  Yellow flower – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Ivana’
  Rosy pink flower – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Letizia’
  Deep red blooms with yellow throats.
• ‘Princess Louise’
  Purple/pink flower – 8-12′
• ‘Princess Mathilde’
  Peachy-orange flower – 12-24″
• ‘Princess Sara’
  Pale orange flowers with pink and yellow highlights – 10-12″
• ‘Princess Victoria’
  Coral-yellow flowers – 30″
• ‘Rachael’
  Purple flowers – 24″
• ‘Red Sensation’
  Red flower – 30″
• ‘Red Valley’
  Red-scarlet – 30″
• ‘Saturne’
  Coral-pink flower – 24-36″
• ‘Summer Breeze’
  Orange-yellow blossoms, variegated foliage.
• ‘Sunlight’
  Creamy-yellow flower – 12-24″
• ‘Sussex Gold’
  Golden-yellow flowers. 32-38″.
• ‘Sweet Laura’
  Yellow with orange-red flower – 24-30″
• ‘Tessa’
  Hot pink flower – 40-48″
• ‘The Third Harmonic’
  Golden yellow flower – 30-42″
• ‘Variegata’
  Green/burgandy flower – 15-30″. Variegated leaves.
• ‘Watermellon’
  Pink/yellow flower – 28-36″
• ‘Yellow Friendship’
  Yellow flower – 32-40″

‘Annica’, ‘Antarctica’, ‘Apollo’, ‘Azula’, ‘Bali’, ‘Butterscotch’, ‘Cahors’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Celine’, ‘Cerise’, ‘Champagne’, ‘Cleo’, ‘Colorita’, ‘Colorita Ariane’, ‘Colorita Claire’, ‘Colorita Elaine’, ‘Compact Red’, ‘Coronet’, ‘Dr. Salter’s hybrids’, ‘Dusty Rose’, ‘Dwarf Fuchsia’, ‘Elvira’, ‘Flaming Star’, ‘Fougere’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Friendship’, ‘Glory of the Andes’, ‘Henry’s Violet’, ‘Inca Bandit’, ‘Inca Glow’, ‘Inca Ice’, ‘Inca Joli’, ‘Inca Lake’, ‘Inca Lolly’, ‘Inca Mambo’, ‘Inca Pulse’, ‘Inca Sweety’, ‘Inca Tropic’, ‘Inca Vito’, ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Koice’, ‘Koncajoli’, ‘Lavender Blush’, ‘Magic White’, ‘Margaret’, ‘Marjorie’s Hybrid’, ‘Mars’, ‘Mauve Majesty’, ‘Meyer’s Rose’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Nehi Grape’, ‘Orange Gem’, ‘Orange Glory’, ‘Oriana’, ‘Pacific Sunset’, ‘Patricia Lynn’, ‘Patricia Lynn’, ‘Perfect Orange’, ‘Prima Donna’, ‘Princes Ariane’, ‘Princess Amina’, ‘Princess Angela’, ‘Princess Anouska’, ‘Princess Diana’, ‘Princess Eliane’, ‘Princess Fabiana’, ‘Princess Felicia’, ‘Princess Ivana’, ‘Princess Letizia’, ‘Princess Louise’, ‘Princess Mathilde’, ‘Princess Sara’, ‘Princess Victoria’, ‘Rachael’, ‘Red Sensation’, ‘Red Valley’, ‘Saturne’, ‘Summer Breeze’, ‘Sunlight’, ‘Sussex Gold’, ‘Sweet Laura’, ‘Tessa’, ‘The Third Harmonic’, ‘Variegata’, ‘Watermellon’, ‘Yellow Friendship’ Tags: #purple#bulb#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#salmon#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#orange flowers#salmon flowers#interiorscape#spring flowers#long-lasting flowers#summer flowers#tender perennials#deer resistant#summer bulbs#cutting garden#spring interest#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#contact dermatitis#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#perennial

• Attributes: Genus: Alstroemeria Family: Alstroemeriaceae Life Cycle: Bulb Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Division Seed Country Or Region Of Origin: Argentina, Chile Wildlife Value: Attracts birds and pollinators Play Value: Attractive Flowers Attracts Pollinators Easy to Grow Bulb Storage: Leave tuberous roots in moist planting medium and store at 35-41°F (2-5 °C) Dimensions: Height: 1 ft. 0 in. – 4 ft. 0 in. Width: 1 ft. 0 in. – 2 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Bulb Herbaceous Perennial Perennial Poisonous Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Habit/Form: Erect Growth Rate: Medium Maintenance: Medium Texture: Medium

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: High Organic Matter Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist Available Space To Plant: 12 inches-3 feet NC Region: Coastal Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

• Flowers: Flower Color: Gold/Yellow Orange Pink Purple/Lavender Red/Burgundy White Flower Value To Gardener: Good Cut Long-lasting Showy Flower Bloom Time: Fall Spring Summer Flower Shape: Tubular Flower Petals: 6 petals/rays Flower Size: 1-3 inches Flower Description: Flower’s colors vary from orange, pink, rose, purple, red, yellow, white, to salmon. Flowers are often streaked or spotted with dark colors. Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with 6 petal-like parts and long-lasting cut flowers.

• Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Leaf Color: Blue Green Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Lanceolate Linear Leaf Margin: Entire Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Description: Strap-like leaves that are narrowed at the base. The leaves are resupinate, twisted on the petioles so the underside faces upwards.

• Stem: Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Description: This plant has erect stems.

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Houseplants Meadow Patio Small Space Landscape Theme: Butterfly Garden Cutting Garden Pollinator Garden Design Feature: Accent Border Mass Planting Screen/Privacy Small groups Specimen Attracts: Butterflies Hummingbirds Songbirds Resistance To Challenges: Deer Problems: Contact Dermatitis Poisonous to Humans

• Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! (All parts are poisonous). Poisonous through dermatitis or eye irritation. Symptoms may include skin irritation with fissures, crusting, blisters, and itching upon contact with cell sap. Poison Toxic Principle: Glycosides (tuliposides) α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones (tulipalin A) Causes Contact Dermatitis: Yes Poison Part: Bark Flowers Fruits Leaves Roots Seeds Stems

Growing Peruvian Lilies – Information On Peruvian Lily Flower Care

Peruvian lily plants (Alstroemeria), also known as Lily of the Incas, are striking late spring or early summer, half-hardy perennial bloomers that are available in a myriad of colors including pink, white, orange, purple, red, yellow and salmon. These flowers resemble azaleas and make a beautiful addition to an indoor bouquet. Keep reading to learn more about how to plant a Peruvian lily in the garden.

How to Plant a Peruvian Lily

Starting Peruvian lily bulbs, which are widely available online or in home and garden centers, is the easiest way of growing Peruvian lilies, although they can also be started from seed.

Peruvian lily plants need lots of space as they can become invasive. Mature plants grow to 4 feet (1 m.) high and 2 feet (0.5 m.) wide. Plant the rhizomes in slightly acidic, well draining soil, at a depth that is three times their height and 12 inches (30 cm.) apart. If you have sandy soil, you should plant your Peruvian lily bulbs 2 inches (5 cm.) deeper. Amending the soil with organic material will give the rhizomes plenty of nutrients.

Peruvian lilies prefer some sun each day and will tolerate shaded locations, especially in very hot climates.

Peruvian Lily Flower Care

Growing Peruvian lilies is not difficult, nor is Peruvian lily flower care. These easy to keep plants thrive when given a balanced 6-6-6 fertilizer throughout the year.

Provide plenty of water for these lilies but do not overwater. You can also add some mulch each spring for protection and to help with moisture retention.

If plants dry out, you can cut them back to 4 inches (10 cm.). They should recover and come back quickly. Additional Peruvian lily flower care includes pinching off any leaves that begin to turn yellow before the flower dies.

Divide Peruvian lilies by digging up rhizomes and cutting off sections in the fall after they bloom.

Peruvian lily plants have few disease or pest problems.

Winter Protection

If Peruvian lilies are not grown in USDA zone 8 though 11, it is recommended that they be dug up and stored for the winter.

Trim leaves before digging up the rhizomes, being very careful not to damage the roots. Place the roots, along with some soil, in a container with some peat moss and store them in an area between 35 and 41 F. (2-5 C.). You can replant the Peruvian lily bulbs in the garden the following spring.