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Gorgeous flower of
Alstroemeria
psittacina or
Peruvian
Lily
arranged in an umbrella-like form
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Alstroemeria psittacina
(Peruvian Lily, Lily of the Incas, Princess Lily, Parrot Lily,
Red Parrot Beak, New Zealand Christmas Bell)
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Synonym:
Alstromeria puchella
Family: Alstroemeriaceae
Origin: Northern Brazil
Light: Part-full shade/full shade
Height: 0.5-1.5'
Spread: 3-6"
Blooms: 1-3' long stalk of red with green,trumpet-shaped flowers
at tips of stems, in
mid-Summer, followed by 3/4" long greenish-black barrel-shped seedpods
Foliage: Herbaceous, smooth
Soil: Well-drained, keep moist, slightly acidic (pH 5.8-6.8)
Water: Regular
Fertilizer: Complete nitrogen-heavy supplement
Propagation: Seeds (Soak first for 12 hours prior to sowing, keep them
constantly moist), tuberous rootball division in early Spring
Caution: Can be invasive
Uses: Shade garden, containers,
woodland, cut flower arrangement
Comments: Alstroemeria
psittacina or
Peruvian
Lily or Lily of the Incas or Princess Lily or Parrot Lily or Red Parrot
Beak or New Zealand Christmas Bell or Alstromeria puchella is an exotic
looking perennial
with an upright growth habit. The spectacular and unusual looking tubular
flowers are colorful and long-lasting; they are popularly used as cut flowers in foral
arrangements. At the end of the petals of the Peruvian Lily
flowers has shades of lemony-lime shade while the rest of the petals is
red. Lily of the Incas spread easily by means of its tubers; the
spoke-wheel-like tubers are white and are brittle so be careful when
planting or transplanting,Princess Lily, making sure you spread the
roots out nicely over a mound of soil. Parrot Lily plants
will go dormant at soil temperature of 70 degreees F. Grown in
masses, Red Parrot Beak looks terrific in the shade garden or in a
woodland setting and they look just as wonderful in a container to
accent your patio.
USDA Hardiness Zones : 7-10 |
