Flower of the Week: Peruvian Lily

The Peruvian lily or Lily of the Inca (Alstroemeria × hybrida) originated from South Africa is a perennial ornamental plant. It is one of the most common types of cut-flower. Their petals roll upwards and the inside layers of the flowers have purple or red line-shaped spots. These spots are their key characteristics.

The Peruvian lily has different colors of flowers. The most common are orange, yellow, pink, watermelon red, purple, and white. The variety of colors make them easy to be mixed with any color scheme. This makes them common guests of every-day flowers and often appear in wedding flowers and valentine’s day flowers.

In gardens, Peruvian lilies are well-suited to be planted at the borders of flower beds. As a succulent rhizome rhizocarpous plant, they are easy to cultivate and reproduce, which makes them a good choice for beginning gardeners. Although they have bold spots and lines, Peruvian lilies are not poisonous. They are safe for dogs, cats, and horses.

Can I Grow Peruvian Lily Well?

Peruvian lilies are somewhat strict about the requirement of their environments. They like warm and moist environment with ample sun. Avoid flooding and avoid moving the plant. It cannot sustain cold temperatures nor does it sustain hot temperatures.

Their peak growing season is usually in between early spring and early summer. As soon as the temperature exceeds 32°C (90°F), Peruvian lilies are likely to grow blind stems that do not bear flowers. Therefore, in regions with hot summers, they are more suited to be planted at planting spots that do not receive sun exposure in the afternoon.

In the hottest summer, the Peruvian lily can enter a hibernation period. At this time, reduce watering and stop fertilization while keeping them dry. In late summer when the weather turns cooler, they will recover their growth. At this time, reestablish the regular watering procedure.

Peruvian lilies have rhizomes that are below the ground, with latent buds on them. If planting them in gardens, they are likely to develop and expand. You can dig out some portions of rhizome with latent buds for reproduction. The best opportunity to reproduce with latent buds is in late winter. Of course, if you give the rhizomes to your neighbors, they will be welcomed. Because of the expansion of the rhizomes every late winter, Peruvian lilies in pots need to be moved to new pots.

How Can I Have High-Quality Cut-Flowers?

If maintained well, Peruvian lilies have abundant blossoms. Collecting a portion as cut-flowers to decorate indoors is a good choice. When cutting flowers, pick ones that have 2-3 flowers on one scape that have just started to bloom. In the year of planting, it is recommended to cut at the scape using a scissor. From the second year of planting, you can even directly pick the scape and pull it off.

If you are purchasing this flower at a store there are three tips that can help you select fresh Peruvian lilies:

How to Lengthen Peruvian Lily's Bottle Life?

Usually, the vase life of Peruvian Lilies is 7-10 days. If you are willing to give it some care, its vase life can be extended to half a month.

Before putting them into a vase or container, pay attention to water quality. Peruvian Lilies are sensitive to the chlorine residues in water. Therefore, if you are using tap water, let it sit in the sun for a few hours. What’s more, you need to thoroughly clean the vase and scissor you use with this flower. Use a clean plant scissor to cut off all leaves below the water.

After adding them to the vase, change the water once a day. Every time when the water is changed, cut off 2-3 cm (around 1 inch), and dissolve fresh flower food in the water. Keeping the room temperature between 20-25°C and avoiding direct sunlight can also extend the vase life of Peruvian lilies.

Please note, Peruvian lilies are sensitive to ethylene. Therefore, keep them away from fruits and vegetables because many fruits and vegetables release ethylene during or after ripening.

Size: 1-3 ft in height

Hardiness: USDA Zone 7-10

Sunlight: Full sun, afternoon shade in hot areas

Soil: Acidic, well-drained, fertile

Bloom time: Late spring to summer