Alstroemeria ‘Inticancha Machu’

This is a popular plant in our perennial tunnels, and for good reason. Alstroemeria ‘Inticancha Machu’ produces masses of vibrant, raspberry-pink flowers, each with delicate darker pink flecks. The flowering season is impressively long, starting in late spring and continuing right through until the first frosts, providing colour for months on end. It’s a compact variety, specifically bred to behave itself in the garden without spreading too far.

This plant forms a tidy, clump-forming mound, typically reaching about 30-40cm in height and spread. It thrives in a sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade and prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It’s important that the soil doesn’t become waterlogged, especially over winter, as this can cause the fleshy roots to rot. The leaves are an attractive dark green, providing a nice contrast to the bright flowers.

For the best results, give it a feed with a high-potash fertiliser during the summer to encourage more flowers. A great tip we’ve learned is to remove spent flower stems by pulling them gently from the base, rather than cutting. This encourages the plant to produce even more blooms. It’s a superb choice for containers or adding a splash of long-lasting colour to the front of a border.