PLEASE NOTE: Since plants are often sourced from the garden to order, sizes do vary a little, depending on how they come out of the ground, but I always endeavour to give a little more rather than less! They are sometimes shipped bare-rooted, but will approximate the size specified (e.g. a 9cm pot).

Alstroemeria psittacina 'Mona Lisa' | ||||||||||||
Lily of the Incas, Peruvian Lily, Parrot lily | ||||||||||||
Currently unavailable | ||||||||||||
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Unlike many other Peruvian lilies, 'Mona Lisa' is known to come true from seed. It makes a wonderful cut flower (if you can bear to remove it from the garden!), with large heads of dark-red, speckled flowers with tinges of green on strong, straight stems with glossy foliage. Prefers soil that is not too limey. Please note that the picture really does not do justice to this beautiful flower! | ||||||||||||
Sowing and/or growing instructions | ||||||||||||
Can be sown at any time, though Feb-July is optimal. Temperatures are crucial for success. Sow onto the surface of good quality compost, barely covering, at 86F/30C for 3 weeks, followed by cooler conditions for a further 3 weeks (41F/3C) by placing in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge, then another 3 weeks at 70F/21C. Ensure that moisture is maintained and do not place in direct sunlight. Never discard seeds prematurely, as germination can be very erratic, taking anything from 2 weeks to 6 months or more. Some sources suggest soaking seed in warm water for 3 days before sowing, changing the water daily with more warm water. |