Do I need to deadhead them?

Yes, pulling the stems from the base encourages more blooms.

Can I grow them in pots?

They thrive in containers as long as the pot has excellent drainage.

Plant guide

Peruvian Lily.

Alstroemeria

Pronounced al-stro-MEER-ee-uh

Also known as Inca Lilies, Lily of The Incas, Peruvian lilies

Alstroemeria revoluta — Photo by Cody Hinchliff (CC BY) via gbif

Alstroemeria are beautiful, long lasting flowers that bring a splash of color to any garden. They grow from tuberous roots and produce clusters of trumpet shaped blooms. You will love how they brighten up your space with their exotic look.

Another photo of Peruvian Lily — Photo by MARIA ISABEL INSUASTI GUZMAN (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 7 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 7 to 10
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to avoid root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage the plant to keep blooming throughout the season.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Remove spent flower stems at the base to promote new growth.
Repotting: Repot only when the tubers have completely filled the container.
Soil: Well draining, fertile, slightly acidic soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -7 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface of the soil.
Noticeable decline in flowering.

Safety

People: The plant contains tulipalin A, which can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the sap can cause skin irritation and the plant material is toxic if ingested.
Contact allergens: Handling the stems or leaves may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant evidence of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: Alstroemeria is not considered edible and can cause digestive irritation if consumed.

How to identify it

Trumpet shaped colorful blooms
Lance shaped green leaves
Leaves are twisted upside down
Grows from fleshy tuberous roots

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: pink, orange, yellow, red, white, purple, 3 to 5cm

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Botrytis BlightCommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon
ThripsUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, apply a thick layer of mulch over the root zone after the foliage dies back. If growing in pots, move them to a frost free location like a garage or shed.
In containers: They grow very well in containers, provided you use a pot at least 30 cm wide with high quality, fast draining potting mix.

Division

1. Carefully dig up the clump in early spring.
2. Gently pull the tuberous roots apart by hand.
3. Replant the divisions at the same depth as the original.

Plant them in groups to provide mutual support for their stems during windy weather.

Grows well with

Lavender — They share similar requirements for well drained soil and sun.
Salvia — The vertical spikes of salvia contrast beautifully with the open blooms of alstroemeria.

Similar species

Daylily — Both are popular tuberous perennials with showy, trumpet shaped flowers.

Science

Family: Alstroemeriaceae
Genus: Alstroemeria
Order: Liliales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: South America, primarily Chile and Brazil.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern.

They grow in cool, well drained mountain soils where they utilize their fleshy tubers to store water during dry spells.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: cut flowers, border plants, container gardening

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to deadhead them?: Yes, pulling the stems from the base encourages more blooms.
Can I grow them in pots?: They thrive in containers as long as the pot has excellent drainage.

Where the name comes from

The genus is named after the Swedish botanist Clas Alströmer, who collected seeds in South America.

Good to know

They are commonly called Peruvian lilies even though they are not true lilies.
The flowers are zygomorphic, meaning they have a distinct bilateral symmetry.
They are native to the cool, mountainous regions of South America.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.