Alstroemeria ‘Inticancha Valletta’

We’ve kept this one on for years; it’s a reliable performer that brings a welcome splash of intense colour. The flowers are a vibrant, strong pink that you can’t miss, held in clusters on sturdy stems. It’s part of the Inticancha series, which are bred to be compact and keep flowering for months, from late spring or early summer right through to the first frosts.

This is a neat and tidy plant, reaching about 30cm in height with a spread of around 40cm. The foliage is a lush, medium green which provides a great backdrop for the bright flowers. It thrives in a sunny or lightly shaded, sheltered spot in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It doesn’t like to sit in wet ground, especially over winter.

For the best results, give it a good mulch in winter for the first couple of years to protect the roots. To keep the flowers coming, don’t cut the old stems; instead, pull them gently from the base of the plant. This encourages new flowering stems to grow. It’s an excellent choice for adding long-lasting colour to patio pots or filling gaps at the front of a sunny border.