Alstroemeria Majestic Avrille

Alstroemeria Majestics Avrille is part of a series of vigorous and hardy Inca lilies, with large growth and very floriferous, whose long flower stems are perfect for cut flowers. This 'Avrille' variety offers bright pink flowers with salmon undertones, adorned with yellow spots heavily punctuated with brown lines. It is a perennial plant that reappears year after year if care is taken to provide it with rich, well-draining soil and regular watering in dry weather. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade, in a bed sheltered from the wind that could bend the stems.

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 'Majestics Avrille' alstroemeria quickly forms dense clumps from spring, consisting of numerous leafy stems reaching about 85 cm (34in) in height when in bloom, with a similar spread. The flowering takes place 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 with a large golden yellow spot streaked with brown, surrounded by 3 slightly wider petals, ranging from bright pink to salmon with a dark pink central area. The abundant foliage is arranged along the stems. The leaves are dark greenish-blue. The foliage and stems disappear in winter, leaving only the slightly trailing stump with fleshy roots underground. The roots are sensitive to the shock of transplantation, especially in older plants.

The 'Avrillé' Alstroemeria is a very 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.