Alstroemeria Majestic Aubance

Alstroemeria Majestics 'Aubance' is part of a series of vigorous and hardy Inca lilies, tall and very floriferous, whose long flower stems are perfect for cut flowers. This Aubance variety offers beautiful tricolour flowers in pink, salmon and yellow, adorned with small brown markings. It is a perennial plant that reappears year after year if given rich and well-drained soil and regular watering in dry weather. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade, in a sheltered bed to protect the stems from wind damage. 

Alstroemerias, belonging to the Alstroemeriaceae family, are perennial plants with tuberous roots native to South America. The hardiest ones, like A. aurantiaca, are native to the Chilean Andes and Patagonia. Sometimes slow to establish, Inca lilies can disappear or... become invasive! Quirky but fantastic plants, very sensitive to growing conditions, they are 'indestructible' once you find the right spot for them. Horticulturists have been working for a few years to develop more reliable and resistant varieties for our wet and cold winters. The Majestics series was developed near Angers. It brings together tall hybrids that can withstand short freezes of around -15°C if the base is protected from moisture.

The Alstroemeria Majestics Aubance quickly forms dense clumps from spring onwards, with numerous leafy stems reaching a height of about 85 cm (34in) when in flower, with a similar spread. Flowering occurs from June to October, continuously if the soil remains moist. Each flower stem bears several 5-6 cm (2in) flowers, arranged in terminal umbels. They consist of 3 small central petals in golden yellow with pink tips, streaked with brown, surrounded by 3 slightly wider petals, ranging from orange to salmon pink with a large pink central area. The abundant foliage, arranged along the stems, is dark greenish-blue. The foliage and stems disappear in winter, leaving only the slightly creeping base with fleshy roots underground. This base is sensitive to the shock of transplantation, especially in mature plants.

Alstroemeria 'Aubance' is a beautiful border plant with remarkably coloured flowers that last a long time in a vase, up to 2 weeks if you remember to change the water daily and trim the stems occasionally. When well established, this exuberant plant offers a magnificent display. In the garden, Alstroemeria Majestics pairs well, for example, with smaller agapanthus varieties like Golden Drop or Silver Moon. It can also be combined with complementary grasses; Stipa, small Miscanthus or Muhlenbergia capillaris will accompany its flowering with their foliage and delicate blooms. In a large flower pot, associate this colourful variety with blue lobelias or Diamond Frost Euphorbia, for example.