Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria, or Lily of the Incas or Peruvian Lily as it is more commonly known, is a flowering plants genus that is part of the Alstroemeriaceae family. All species of Alstroemeria originate from South American countries; though, some have come to be naturalised in other places including the Spanish Canary Islands, Madeira, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and the United States. Within the genus there are two distinctions that set most species of Alstroemeria apart from one another. The species that come from Chile grow during winter time, while the species from Brazil grow in the summer. All species though, with the exception of Alstroemeria Graminea, a small annual member of the genus, are long living perennials. Each plant has leaves that are alternately arranged and face underside up as they are twisted on their petioles. The flowers bloom either in umbels or individually and come in a wide array of colours including white streaked, striped and flecked with other colours, green, orange and red. Alstroemeria are used more or less exclusively for gardens and also make for nice cut flowers in arrangements and bouquets. Astra Fund offers bulk purchases of flowers, including the Alstroemeria in many of the colours mentioned above.