Alstroemeria psittacina

Flower head

This species Alstroemeria is a hardy deciduous perennial that survives as underground tubers in the Winter. In the Spring, little umbrella shapped leaf heads appear above the ground, followed by tall flower stems in the Summer.

Like most alstroemerias, the long-lasting flowers are great for cutting, having long straight stems. The red flowers have green tips and dark brown markings. Appropriately named, New Zealand Christmas bell, the flowers open during Christmas.

Although quite popular in older gardens in New Zealand, it is now relatively hard to obtain, as garden centres tend to only stock hybrid alstromerias.

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See also:  Bulbs, Corms & Tubers, Culture / Germination

Flower head Detail Seed head