Alstroemeria
Common names: alstroemeria, Peruvian lily, Inca lily.
Alstroemeria, commonly called Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a South
American genus of about 50 species of flowering plants, mainly from cool, mountainous
regions in the Andes.
Main stems of these cut flowers are 2 to 3 feet long branching into four to six short pedicels; each holding two to four flower buds.
Many hybrids plus about 190 cultivars have been developed, with different markings
and colors, ranging from white, golden yellow, orange, to apricot, pink, red, purple or lavender.
The flower, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popular with florists for
bouquets and flower arrangements in the commercial cut flower trade.
They have a vase life of up to two weeks. |
Liatris
Common names: liatris, spike gayfeather
Liatris belongs to the Compositae family.
About 40 species of the hardy perennial grow across North America, from southern
Canada to northern Mexico, also east of the Rocky Mountains through Florida.
Liatris spicata, L. aspera Michx. and L. pycnostachya Michx. are major commercial species, often used as colorful accents in cut flower arrangements or bouquets.
Unlike other flowers, liatris flowers open from its stem top downward.
Clustered along the spike, they have a feathery look.
Various shades of deep lavender are most common; other flower colors are bluish shades, violet or white. |
