Alstroemeria Flowers

Alstroemeria flowers are also known as Lily of the Incas or Peruvian Lily, although it is not actually a lily. Yet another name for alstroemeria is Ulster Mary. The genus of alstroemeria has around 120 species of flowering plants. The French botanist, Louis Feuillee was the first to describe this plant in the 1700s. These flowers have many different hybrid forms, about 190 types are recorded. The colors are numerous which include lavender, red, apricot, golden yellow, orange, pink and purple. Extensive breeding was done in the US in the 1980s. As this flower has a vase life of almost 3 weeks, it is very popular for use as cut flowers which are sold commercially.

Geography

These flowers are natives of South America, and most commonly grown in Central Chile and Eastern Brazil. The Chilean species grow in the winter but the Brazilian species grows in the summer. They are all perennials except graminea which is an annual and is found in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Alstroemeria Flower Meaning and Symbolism

Alstroemeria is assumed to symbolize the ever-lasting beauty of commitment, care, friendship and devotion. There are others however, who claim that this flower symbolizes fortune, prosperity and wealth.

Facts about Alstroemeria

This flower is named after the person who discovered it, Baron Claus von Altromer, a baron from Sweden who gathered the seeds while visiting Spain in the year 1753. He was a pupil of the renowned botanist, Linnaeus.
A special morphological feature of this plant is that the leaves grow upside down and the leaf twists as it grows, with a result that the top of the leaf faces downwards.
The plants grow from two to three feet in height.
These flowers are devoid of fragrance.
Alstroemeria is a bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic) flower having 3 striped petals and 3 petals.
The sepals and petals have the same color.
If the temperature of the soil increases, then the plants start generating tuberous roots and this can even lead to a halt in production of flowers.
Alstroemeria flowers usually last one to two weeks.
Each plant can bear 3 to 7 flowers.
These plants bear flowers throughout the year, but the peak seasons are in spring and autumn.

Cultivation of Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria needs abundant sunlight and the soil should be well-drained.
A mild dose of organic fertilizer should be applied to the planting hole.
The plants should be placed as deep as they would have been had they been growing in containers (about an inch deep in the soil).
The plants should be planted at a distance of 1 foot from each other.
The soil should be well-watered at all times.
The old stems of the flowers should be cut by an instrument known as “bypass pruners”.
Gardening guides can be used, which are available in bookstores or can be referred to on the internet.

Source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Shopping/flower-facts/Alstroemeria-flowers-4

Allium Flowers

Allium is a flowering plant which belongs to the onion genus, although it had been incorrectly clubbed with the lily family previously. This flower is also a very popular garden flower. The word allium is actually Latin for Garlic.  These are beautiful flowers which have been used by several famous artists like Baker and Rembrandt who have highlighted the magnificence of these flowers in their paintings.

Geography

Allium flowers are predominant in the Northern Hemisphere and grow abundantly in Asia. Some of the species can be found in South America, Central America and Africa. These plants are found over a vast area throughout the world due to their adaptability to different types of growing conditions.

Meaning and Symbolism

The Allium Plant emerges from a single bulb, which is probably why it is said to stand for unity and also represents patience and humility. The Latin word for onion is unio which also is synonymous with the word single.

Facts about Allium Flowers

These flowering plants are very popularly used as borders due to architectural qualities and the ornamental nature of the flowers.
There are numerous varieties of alliums, the most common being christophil, which is characterized by pink blossom balls during summertime.
The blue variety of allium is caerulum which is a bit smaller that christohpil but produce an electric blue blossom.
For yellow color, flavum is used and neaplitanum produces white, scented blossoms which appear in early spring.
Alliums also grow in different sizes which range from a towering 60 inches of giganreum to the tiny dwarves like molly, which is about 8 inches.
This plant has also got some medicinal value as it is considered to be a source of vitamins and is believed to defend the human body against disease and infection.
This flower also provides relief against psoriasis and other skin conditions.
A word of caution – allium is poisonous if ingested by dogs and cats.

Cultivation of Allium

Allium is sown during the autumn season.
The soil should be well-prepared with adequate amounts of compost added to the soil.
The bulbs should be checked prior to planting to ensure good condition.
Any outer skin attached to the bulbs should be removed before planting.
In the event of any rot being noticed, fungicide should be applied to the bulbs.
Depending on the size of the flowers to be grown, the bulbs are planted between six to eight inches in depth.
Regular watering should be done for the alluim plants commencing from spring to grow strong plants. This also prevents the foliage on the allium flowers becoming yellow.
An added advantage of the allium plant is that they do not need to be replanted each year as the bulbs that remain in the ground will propagate again in the next season.
Most of the species will grow just as well in containers (like flowerpots) as they do in open ground.

Source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Shopping/flower-facts/Allium-flowers-2