Plant Finder

Other Names:  Peruvian Lily

Group/Class:  Colorita Series

Brand:  Monrovia

Description:

A compact, densely branched mound of glossy green foliage, producing masses of dramatic red blooms with yellow throats from spring until frost; rhizomes will survive moderate frost; an outstanding cut flower, perfect for gardens or containers

Ornamental Features

Colorita® Kate® Alstroemeria features showy bracted red trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow throats and burgundy stripes at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive glossy pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Colorita® Kate® Alstroemeria is an herbaceous annual with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Colorita® Kate® Alstroemeria is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Colorita® Kate® Alstroemeria will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Colorita® Kate® Alstroemeria is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.