Alstroemeria

The clusters of lily-like flowers come in a choice of vibrant colours, including pinks, reds, purples, yellows, oranges and creamy-whites, often adorned with speckles, blotches and stripes. They open throughout summer and early autumn at the top of leafy stems. Plants die back over winter and re-sprout in spring.

Grow in full sun, in any reasonably fertile soil that drains easily. Alstroemerias like a warm, sheltered spot and often do well at the base of a sunny wall.

Excessively wet soil can cause plants to rot over winter. Alstroemerias don’t flower well in shade.

To keep plants flowering, remove faded blooms regularly. But instead of cutting off individual flowers, once the whole cluster has faded, grasp the stem near the base and gently pull it away from the plant. This encourages new flower stems to grow.