Peruvian Lily

Alstroemeria

A genus of long-lived perennials that are native to South America.
While most species bloom during summer, the ones from Mediterranean parts of Chile grow and flower during the winter rainy season. Thy are very deep rooted and drought tolerant. This plant resents transplanting and the thick tubers should be handled carefully. The average germination rate of the seeds is 1%. Soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide for up to 30 minutes before planting may help

* photos taken on April 12 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 26 2016 in Columbia, MD

Alstroemeria aurantiaca ( Peruvian Lily )
Reaches up to 3 x 3 feet.
The lance-shaped leaves are gray-green.
The trumpet-shaped flowers are borne in clusters.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( 6 and 7 if heavily mulched during winter ) in full sun ( some afternoon shade where very hot ) on very well drained soil. They are tougher and easier to transplant than other species and can be divided..especially if clumps grow thick and start to loose their vigor. The tubers should be planted 10 inches deep.

Alstroemeria 'Colorita Katiana'

* photos taken on May 1 2025 in Elkridge, MD

Alstroemeria 'Glory of the Andes'
A form of Alstromeria 'Sweet Laura' with very attractive foliage that is boldly margined in yellow.
The intense golden-yellow and orange flowers appear late spring into mid-autumn.
It is a vigorous grower, reaching up to 3.1 feet.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

Alstroemeria 'Inca Series'
Vigorous and compect, upright, reaching up to 1.7 x 2 feet.
The leaves are up to 5.5 x 1.5 inches in size. The foliage is rich deep green.
The flowers, up to 2 inches wide, appear from mid-summer into autumn and are variable in color.
The hardiest of the Alstroemerias, solidly hardy in zone 5 Michigani It requires full sun on very well drained soil.

The cultivars include

'Inca Bandit'
Intense red flowers.

* photos taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Batavia'
has intense royal-purple flowers.

* photo taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Candy'
Flowers are deep pink with white centers.

* photo taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 13 2025 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Coral'
Coral-pink flowers.

* photo taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Gold Rush'
Golden-yellow flowers.

* photos taken on Aug 16 2024 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on May 1 2025 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 13 2025 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Husky'
Flowers are white with peachy-pink and yellow centers.

'Inca Holland'
Intense deep orange flowers that are centered golden-yellow.

* photo taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Ice'
Similar to 'Inca Series' except larger, reaching up to 3 x 3.3 feet in size, with very abundant flowers that are very pale pink and cream.

'Inca Joly'
Reddish-orange flowers.

* photos taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Lolly'
Intense cherry-red flowers.

* photos taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Magic'
White flowers with plum-purple splotches.

* photos taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Lucky'
Flowers are white with a reddish-pink center.

'Inca Ocean'
Lavender-blue flowers

* photos taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Replay'
Violet-purple flowers.

* photo taken on May 9 2025 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Safari'
Flowers are bright pinkish-orange with yellow centers that are speckled black.

* photo taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca Sundance'
Flowers are deep yellow with some red splotching.

* photos taken on June 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Inca White'
Flowers are pure white with plum-purple centers.

Alstroemeria 'Ligtu Hybrids'
Reaches up to 4 x 2.5 feet in size, with red, orange or yellow flowers. A single clump may produce up to 24 stems.
The narrow leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are bright green.
They are among the hardiest of all Alstroemeria. In cold winter climates, it goes dormant from mid-summer through the winter. The root systems may be up to 3 + feet deep.

'Princess Diana'

* photo taken on May 23 2025 in Elkridge, MD

Alstromeria psittacina
A vigorous growing, tuberous, semi-evergreen perennial, reaching up to 15 inches x 4 feet.
The deep red ( with brown spotting ) flowers are borne over a long season during summer.
It makes for a great cut flower. A form called 'Variegata' is nearly identical except for the attractive boldly white margined foliage.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.

Alstromeria 'Rock and Roll'
A perennial, reaching up to 3 x 2.5 feet, with yellow ( fading to creamy-white ) leaves that are margined in green.
The intense scarlet-red flowers are borne late spring into early autumn.
Hardy zones 8b to 9.

* photos taken on Apr 24 2023 in Elkridge, MD

* patent photo

Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura'
A vigorous but slowly rhizomatous spreading perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet.
The foliage is gray-green. The leaves are up to 5 x 0.7 inches in size.
The sweetly-fragrant, abundant, yellow ( spotted deep red ) flowers are borne early summer to early autumn, sometimes even until autumn frost.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade, this hybrid is tolerant of heat and humidity in the southeastern U.S. Deer resistant.

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Akebia

Akebia

Akebia longiracemosa
Also called Akebia quinata var. longeracemosa. A fast growing, semi-evergreen vine native to mountains of southeastern China and Taiwan where it is rare.
The foliage is very similar to Akebia quinata but smaller in size. The semi-leathery, oblong leaflets are up to 3.8 x 1.5 inches in size.
The reddish-purple flowers are borne on hanging racemes up to 8 inches in length.
They are followed by reddish-purple, oblong fruits, up to 2.8 x 0.8 inches in size.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in partial shade on just about any well drained soil.

Akebia pentaphylla
A semi-evergreen vine, reaching a maximum size of 40 x 40 feet, that is native to Japan.
The palmate leaves are composed of 3 to 5 oval leaflets, up to 3 inches in length.
The foliage is mid-green, turning purplish during winter.
The fragrant, purple flowers are borne on clusters up to 5 inches in length, during early spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

Akebia quinata ( Chocolate Vine )
A very fast growing, deciduous to semi-evergreen ( zone 7 + ) vine, reaching up to 40 x 40 feet, that is a widespread native of eastern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 20 feet. They can be used to cover a wire fence or make an excellent foliage screen.
The palmate leaves are composed of 5 ( rarely 3 or 7 ) rounded leaflets, up to 5 x 1 ( rarely over 2.5 )inches in size. The foliage is deep green above, blue-green beneath.
The fragrant, reddish-purple flowers are borne on racemes, up to 5 inches in length, during late spring.
2 varieties will be needed to produce fruit since they are not self fertile and will need cross pollination. The juicy, purple fruits, up to 7 x 3 inches, are eaten fresh and contain a tasty pulp. They make an excellent drink when mixed with lemon juice and also make a good jelly.
The dried leaves can also be used for tea.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on most acidic to neutral, well drained soils. It is moderately drought tolerant.
Propagation is easy from seed, root cuttings and layering. It will rapidly regrow if cut back to the ground.

* photos taken on April 13 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 14 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Dec 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

* historical archive photo

'Shirobana'
White flowers and fruit; otherwise identical to species.

'Variegata'
Attractive variegated foliage, otherwise similar to species.

Akebia trifoliata
A semi-evergreen vine, reaching a maximum size of 40 x 40 feet, that is a widespread native to southern, central and eastern China and Japan.
The leaves are composed of 3 oblong leaflets, up to 3.2 x 2.4 inches in size. The foliage is bronze at first, turning to glossy deep green. The foliage turns to intense red during autumn.
The deep red flowers, up to 0.7 inches across, are borne during late spring.
They are followed by tasty, edible, oblong fruits up to 5 inches in length.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photos taken on June 25 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Dec 3 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 27 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 10 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 14 2023 in Columbia, MD

Stonecress

Aethionema

Aethionema cordifolium ( Lebanese Stonecress )
A moderate growing, mounding, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 inches x 1.5 feet, that is native to Lebanon and Turkey to Asia Minor.
The needle-like leaves, up to 0.7 inches in length, are blue-green.
The small, rosy-pink flowers are borne on upright terminal spikes over a long season during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 in full sun on light, alkaline to neutral, well drained soil. Propagation is from seed during early spring, division or cuttings taken during summer. Deadhead after blooming.

Aethionema grandiflorum ( Persian Stonecress )
A moderate growing, mounding, long-lived, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 32 inches, that is native to mountains of Iran. It makes a great plant for the rock garden.
The finely-textured, needle-like leaves, up to 1.5 inches in length, are grayish-blue.
The soft pale pink flowers are borne during late spring to early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 in full sun on sandy, well drained soil. Propagation is from seed, division or cuttings. Deadhead after blooming.

'Warley Rose'
A moderate growing, mounding, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 foot x 20 inches.
The foliage is gray-green.
The pink flowers are borne during late spring to early autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. Propagation is from seed, division or cuttings. Shear after blooming.

'Warley Ruber'
Rosy-red flowers, otherwise identical to A. 'Warley Rose'.

Aethionema iberideum
A moderate growing, mounding, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 inches x 1 foot, that is native to Turkey.
The foliage is gray-green.
The flowers are white.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. Propagation is from seed, division or cuttings. Deadhead after blooming.

Aethionema kotschyi
A semi-evergreen ( evergreen in mild climates ), compact, shrubby, groundcover perennial, reaching a maximum height of 8 inches.
The rich pink flowers are borne during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil.

Aethionema membranaceum
A low, cushion-forming perennial, reaching a maximum height of 6 inches.
The foliage is blue-green.
The rich pink flowers are borne during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil.

Aethionema schistosum ( Fragrant Persian Stonecress )
A moderate growing, mounding, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 foot x 15 inches, that is native to Turkey.
The linear leaves are bluish-gray.
The very fragrant, soft to deep pink flowers are borne on terminal racemes during early spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil. Drought tolerant. Propagation is from seed, division or cuttings. Deadhead after blooming.