My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Alstroemeria

The roots of an Inca Lily looks a bit like that of a Dahlia, with a slim finger-like rhizome or group of rhizomes. The flowers grow on long stems ending in an umbel with more than 10 lily or trumpet shaped flowers on.

Rocking around three candle trees floral art design with berries, dendrobium orchids, alstroemeria, cymbidium orchids and lisianthus flowers

Common name

Inca lily, Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas

Origin

South America

Varieties

There are 190 cultivars and many hybrids.

Colors

The flowers have spots and streaked markings on the petals and the colours range from green to white, golden yellow, and orange to a light apricot, pink, a dark red, bluish purple, and lavender

Vase life

Up to two weeks as a stem but the flowers last a bit shorter if cut as individual flowers

Scent

Slight floral fragrance

Uses

Long stems are great in line work and the individual flowers are perfect for body flowers. The small flowers look great combined with lilies.

Conditioning

Choose stems that are just opining with all its colour showing but only a few petals turning. Look for undamaged stems and healthy green foliage. If the foliage is yellow it is best not to purchase the flowers as it is a sign of stress caused by flower preservative. Cut the white lower portion of the stem and remove the lower foliage from the stems. Condition in warm water with flower food. Do not remove all the foliage when conditioning because the green leaves help with the uptake of water.

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