Alstroemeria Majestic Chinon

Alstroemeria Majestics 'Chinon', with its brilliantly bicolour flowers and exceptional hardiness, is a superb representative of this series of Majestics lilies selected for their vigour and extraordinary floribundity. They all have a large growth and long flower stems ideal for cut flowers. This Chinon variety offers intense red flowers decorated by small golden yellow central petals punctuated with brown streaks. It is a perennial plant that reappears year after year if cared for by providing rich and well-draining soil and regular watering in dry weather. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade, in a bed sheltered from 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.

Alstroemeria 'Majestics Chinon' quickly forms dense clumps, composed of numerous leafy stems reaching about 85 cm (34in) in height when in flower, with a spread that is almost identical. The flowering takes place from June to October, continuously if the soil remains moist. Each flower stem bears several 5-6 cm (2in) flowers, gathered in terminal umbels. They consist of 3 small central petals with golden yellow streaks of brown, surrounded by 3 larger petals, bright red in color, slightly striated with brown along the edges. The abundant foliage is arranged along the stems. The leaves are dark green with a bluish hue. The foliage and stems disappear in winter, leaving only the slightly creeping base with fleshy roots underground. The roots are sensitive to the shock of transplantation, especially in older plants.

The 'Chinon' Alstroemeria is a very beautiful border plant with exotic charm, and its flowers last a long time in a vase, up to 2 weeks if you take care to change the water every day 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.