Alstroemeria, also known as the Peruvian Lily, are great cut flowers. They are a florist’s favorite because they often last as long as two weeks in a vase.  They have no fragrance but are brightly colored and tropical looking. They are easy to grow in the garden but until now they were not hardy here. 

  I never thought I could grow them in New York but they now have one called Sweet Laura which is hardy in zone 5 and this one has fragrance as well.   Sweet Laura has yellow-orange flowers with red-orange streaking and spots on the petals. Sounds pretty enough to me.  There is another one patented by Cornell that is called Mauve Majesty. Although it is not fragrant it is hardy to zone 5 as well.    They are lavender colored with dark speckling and a  yellow throat.  Needless to say I will be getting some of each of these to try my luck with.  My hopes are that they truly can withstand our winter if I am careful to mulch well.  I guess the only way to find out is to try them.  

So I will.                                  

 ~Whatever a man’s age, he can reduce it several years
by putting a bright-colored flower in his buttonhole. 
~Mark Twain

 

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