Alstroemeria Inticancha 'Indigo'
Peruvian lily
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Supplied as an established plant in a 3 litre pot
Aspect
Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness
Fully hardy
Flowers
Summer, autumn
Soil
Loam, well-drained soil
About this plant
Deep, moody colour, no staking needed
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Description
Alstroemeria Inticancha 'Indigo' is a compact, patio-friendly Peruvian lily from the Inticancha series, bred for a naturally bushy, well-branched habit that needs no staking. It produces an abundance of exotic, freckled purple-blue flowers over a long season from early summer into autumn, and cuts well for indoor arrangements. Its compact size makes it especially suited to containers as well as borders. -
Why we like it
Key features
What makes it special
Fully hardy — comes back every year
Good for cutting
Loved by bees & pollinators
Long-lasting blooms that persist for months
Specs & details
The particulars
- Botanical name
- Alstroemeria Inticancha 'Indigo'
- Common name
- Peruvian lily
- Supplied as
- 3 litre pot
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Eventual height
- 30 to 45cm
- Eventual spread
- 30 to 40cm
- Flowering period
- Summer, autumn
- Habit
- Compact, bushy, well-branched tuberous perennial
- Life cycle
- Tuberous perennial
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Aspect
- Full sun to partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, well-drained soil
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Position
- Mid-border, patio container, cutting garden
- Plant spacing
- 5 to 6 plants per m²
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
Plant calendar
When to plant, when it performs
Planting & care
Help it thrive
Planting guide
Plant tubers or pot-grown plants in spring or early autumn, handling the roots carefully as they are brittle and resent disturbance. Choose a spot in full sun to partial shade with reasonably fertile, well-drained soil, or use a good quality peat-free compost if growing in a container. Plant a little deeper than the pot, around 10 to 15cm, to help protect the roots over winter.
Care tips
Water regularly through the growing season, particularly for plants in containers, which dry out faster than open ground. To harvest flowers for cutting, or to encourage further blooms, pull spent flower stems away from the base with a sharp tug rather than cutting, which is the traditional method for Alstroemeria and encourages more flowers to follow. Apply a mulch in autumn in colder areas for extra winter protection.
Winter care
Fully hardy in most of the UK, though a dry winter mulch over the crown is worthwhile in cold areas or hard winters, particularly for plants grown in containers. Cut back foliage once it has died down naturally in autumn, and avoid cutting green foliage as this can weaken the tuberous roots.