Alstroemeria Indian Summer

After a couple of failed attempts to grow this in mixed borders, it's made me more determined than ever to establish it. So...I'm making a raised bed in full sun around a small Zizyphus jujuba, importing good, rich but light topsoil which will give a depth of 45cm + the original improved clay underneath. As it's at the top of the slope, I know it drains well. Being greedy, I'm wondering what, if anything else, I can plant with the Alstroemeria to add interest and extend the season, without compromising it's growth. Could anyone who grows it give me a few pointers in the yellow/orange/red spectrum, please? I was thinking Tulips for spring with Ricinus and perhaps Amaranthus in summer. Any ideas or tips? Merci

 

That's a really good question. Not that I can be of much help, but I did ask AI for you and it said: "Roses, peonies, and lilacs all go well with alstroemeria", but this suggestion obviously won't work in winter. Seeing the considered effort and care you are putting into it, I'm sure you won't fail this time. Bonne chance! We love the plant; in fact, we took this picture on the 4th of January of this year (it was caught in a sun trap (there must have been some sun in London last January, then???):

 

Thank you for asking Not an approach I'll be taking while there are real, experienced human beings with knowledge and ideas to share, but I appreciate that the future is looming, if not blooming I'll look forward to posting a photo of mine next year.

 

Cannot help with the companion plants, though am surprised you cannot grow the Indian Summer, we stuggle to stop it flowering , which it is even now, though it is in a pot.

We wonder if like @JWK mentions it could be competition from other plants or even some of the more tropical plant you have are more agressive methods to protect their space or simply being out competed for water ?
Could it be worth placing them in large pots and sinking them into the ground so they have more chance to retain the water for themselves ?

 

I think the problems with where they were before stemmed from drought in summer coupled with soggy soil all winter and possibly slug and snail depredations. I've taken on board the comments about competition, though (thanks very much ) and will leave them to do their thing without other planting for at least next year to see how they get on. Well, perhaps just a few deeply buried tulips, but that's all

 

@noisette47 I find Indian Summer has a super long season anyway. But the tulips would be good - I used to have one called Dillenberg I think in the right colour range. I must admit I think reds would clash with the orange tones. I also have orange leaved heuchera near it. But perovskia forms a gentle contrast too

 

I quite like the look of Tulip Monte Orange, an early double, or good old Princess Irene I love Heucheras but it would be much too hot, sunny and dry in that spot even when the Zizyphus comes into leaf.

 

I have Indian Summer growing in OH's garden in Norfolk in sandy soil with some shade from trees and in my garden in SW France in clay soil in the sun. Both flower all summer into the autumn. Both have other perennials growing around them, achillia Paprika, purple salvia nemorosa, blue geraniums, orange Totally Tangerine geums, purple phlox etc.

 

I saw loads of alstroemerias in fiery shades whilst in Brittany last June and it's also used as municipal planting in Les Sables d'Olonne @noisette47. Full sun and much less rain there. They mix it up with shrubby sages in deepred and purple shades, hardy geraniums and perovskia.

 

Thanks, all. It's beginning to look as though it was mollusc damage rather than competition that did for my other ones

 

I think you could be right @noisette47. I don't get much slug damage in either garden. Mostly roe deer and drought in France and muntjac and squirrels in Norfolk.

 

Indian Summer has a tendency to flop on top of its neighbours so it's best to have something that rises above it.

 

But then you can't see it! I put a couple of canes in the ground and tie a piece of green jute string around the plant, doesn't show and the plant doesn't flop.

 

That was my solution too when there was something to actually support I still have a few 'posh' ring-type plant supports bought many years ago in UK. They're on permanent duty round the herbaceous paeonies. Quick to put in and they look OK even when the plants aren't covering them. Otherwise, you can't beat canes and string