Alstroemeria Sweet Laura: Fragrance at Last

Alstroemeria, also known as the Peruvian Lily is an attractive cut flower often used in bouquets. Professional florists relish them. They come in a variety of colors. Home gardeners living in USDA zones 5-9 are able to grow these plants outdoors. The only feature lacking in these flowers was fragrance. That is until now. Alstroemeria, Sweet Laura offers fragrance at last.

Alstroemeria, Sweet Laura has yellow-orange flowers with red-orange streaking and spots on the petals. Plants produce stems with clusters of up to 5 flowers that have a somewhat sweet scent. Sweet Laura stands 30 inches tall. The plant flowers from summer through fall, offering a long season of fragrant cut flowers. Plant them with Shasta Daisies or Babies Breath for a dramatic effect. This is the first scented Alstroemeria that is readily available for sale.

In general, Peruvian Lilies are not difficult to grow and Alstroemeria, Sweet Laura is no exception. This species is native to South America. They require full sun and well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. In areas that get very hot, like the humid south, plants appreciate afternoon shade. If growing in zones 4-5, mulch will help the plants over-winter. In zones 8-10 plant in dappled shade and mulch to keep soil cool. This plant is a perennial. It should return year after year in USDA agricultural zones 5-9. Every few years the tubers should be divided. In zones outside of 5-9, you can grow Alstroemeria as an annual.

Alstroemeria, Sweet Laura is readily available in the spring. That is when many retailers have them for sale. In the spring, they can be found online at Wayside Gardens, Spring Hill Nursery, and others. Many catalog companies are offering these plants too. You can check local home and garden centers such as Home Depot for availability. For best results, plant bulbs in late winter to early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked and it is not too wet. The first year will produce a minimal show, by the third year they will really come into their own.