Alstroemeria: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria, family Alstroemeriaceae) usually lasts 10–14 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: filler flower.
- Botanical name
- Alstroemeria
- Family
- Alstroemeriaceae
- Accepted name
- Alstroemeria L.
- Role in a design
- Filler flower
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- In season
- Year-round
- Fragrance
- None
- Colours
- pink, white, yellow, orange, red, purple
- Meaning
- Friendship and devotion
- Type
- Cut flower
- Pets
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA entry: Alstroemeria)
Cut flower commercial monograph
- Official name
- Alstroemeria
- Botanical name
- Alstroemeria
- Family
- Alstroemeriaceae
- Aliases
- None
- Native origin
- Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide
- Growth habit
- Herbaceous perennial or biennial with sturdy, upright flowering stems.
- Stem length
- 70–90 cm
- Natural colours
- Pink, White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple
- Natural bloom
- Natural flowering in spring and summer
- Commercial supply
- Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production
- Harvest stage
- Cut when the first lower bud is swollen, showing colour, but not yet split.
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Cold storage
- Cold storage suitable (2–5°C constant temperature, high humidity).
- Special care
- The leaves yellow long before the flowers fade: strip most of them. Pull out spent florets and the next buds open. The sap can irritate skin.
- Application
- Serves primarily as Filler flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.
- Market notes
- Alstroemeria is highly sensitive to ethylene; store away from fruit and fading flowers. The leaves yellow long before the flowers fade: strip most of them. Pull out spent florets and the next buds open. The sap can irritate skin.
For florists
Try Alstroemeria in a client design
We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers — Alstroemeria included — and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits.
Try it as a design — freeCare and conditioning
- The leaves yellow long before the flowers fade: strip most of them. Pull out spent florets and the next buds open. The sap can irritate skin.
- Alstroemeria is sensitive to ethylene: store and display it away from ripening fruit, fading flowers and exhaust fumes, or it will drop florets and wilt early.
Where it fits
| Use | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ✓ | Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs (entry: Alstroemeria). Check the other stems in the bouquet too. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | Long-lasting (about 10–14 days) — good for orders prepared ahead and weekly contract flowers. |
Pairs well with
These are available at the same time as alstroemeria and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:
| Flower | Role | Vase life |
|---|---|---|
| Carnation | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Bird of paradise | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Orchids (cut) | Focal flower | 10–21 days |
| Eucalyptus | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| Monstera leaf | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| Asparagus fern | Foliage | 10–14 days |
Substitutes
When alstroemeria is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:
| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statice | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| Craspedia (billy buttons) | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| Globe amaranth | 10–14 days | Summer, Autumn | None | — |
| Bouvardia | 7–10 days | Year-round | Light | — |
FAQ
How long does alstroemeria last in a vase?
Usually 10–14 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.
When is alstroemeria in season?
It is available year-round.
How do you keep alstroemeria fresh?
The leaves yellow long before the flowers fade: strip most of them. Pull out spent florets and the next buds open. The sap can irritate skin.
What does alstroemeria symbolise?
Friendship and devotion. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures.
What colours does alstroemeria come in?
Naturally in pink, white, yellow, orange, red, purple (not counting dyed stems).
What can I use instead of alstroemeria?
Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Statice, Craspedia (billy buttons), Globe amaranth, Bouvardia.
Related guides
In season at the same time
RoseLilyCarnationGerbera daisyLisianthusBaby's breathBird of paradiseOrchids (cut)