Alstroemeria

Family Alstroemeriaceae. Name: the genus Alstroemeria, as well as the entire family, bears the name of its discoverer — Baron Alströmer, who first sent seeds of these plants to Carl Linnaeus from Chile.

Description: the family Alstroemeriaceae (Alstroemeriaceae) comprises 4 genera, including 200 species, distributed mainly in South America. The largest number of species belong to the genera Bomarea (150) and Alstroemeria (about 50).

The orange, red and lilac flowers of the latter are very decorative and have long been grown in the gardens of South American countries. A characteristic feature of most representatives of the family is the twisting of the leaf petiole by 180°, so that morphologically its lower side is located on top and the upper side underneath. Even in the first leaf of an Alstroemeria seedling the petiole is already inverted. Alstroemerias are perennial herbaceous plants with tuberous rhizomes from which numerous thick (up to 1 cm) spindle-shaped roots 10–15 cm long arise, resembling dahlia tuber-roots in shape. The height of the stems reaches 1 m. Leaves alternate, from awl-shaped to spatulate-elongated and obovate, sessile. Flowers, similar in shape to lilies or daylilies, with petals free from the base, are gathered in racemose inflorescences of 2–14. They are fairly large (5–8 cm in diameter), of very varied coloration with patterns of streaks and stripes on the two upper petals.

Only a few species are widespread in ornamental gardening. As a result of breeding work based on these, about 20 hybrid forms have been obtained with larger flowers of bright coloration and high productivity (up to 25 flower stems per year from one plant), and importantly for production, with disease resistance. They were developed in England, the Netherlands and Germany.

Location: for successful growth and abundant flowering Alstroemeria should be planted in a brightly lit place, but not in direct sunlight, in well-drained, loose, nutritious soil. In the temperate zone and further north it is mainly grown in greenhouses and conservatories. In the open ground it is found among amateur gardeners only in the south.

Care: responsive to feeding with mineral and organic fertilizers. The main difficulty is to provide the plant with proper wintering. After the first frosts, which do not damage the shoots, cut off the entire above-ground part and, if possible, allow the top layer of soil to dry. Then cover the bush with a thick layer of dry leaves and a film on top. Garden soil and humus are piled on it. Such covering prevents deep freezing of the soil in winter, which the undemanding Alstroemeria does not fear. In spring its shoots appear from the ground together with tulips. However, they are usually hit by returning frosts in April. This does not cause significant harm to the plant and numerous new shoots soon develop. In case of severe winters it is recommended in autumn to dig up several plants and store them until spring in a non-freezing cellar in a box with soil.

Propagation: Alstroemeria tends to spread quickly, and there are no problems with its propagation. The bush should be transplanted and divided in spring, but disturbed plants flower poorly in the first year or do not flower at all. Species can be propagated by seeds. Sow in April–May in leafy-sod soil (mixture 2:1). Seedlings appear after 3 weeks. Seedlings bloom in the second year. Seeds remain viable for 3–4 years.

Uses: large bushes of Alstroemeria up to 1 m high look especially effective among low clumps of Sedum and Ajuga. Indispensable for cut flowers.