Here's a flower that will stop people in their tracks!  Bomarea is an exciting, rare tropical from the mountains of South America.  A member of the Lily family and related to Alstroemerias, you can think of it as a vining Alstroemeria - but even more beautiful.  All throughout the year, it puts on a fireworks show of clustered, multi-color flowers that are among the most dramatic in the plant world.  I gave it the name "Fiesta" — it is an undetermined species from Ecuador.

The Fiesta Bomarea is an evergreen, ever-flowering variety.  It has brilliant scarlet petals with a speckled yellow "skirt," and topped with a purplish "cap".  The blooms remind me of a flamenco dancer's dress!  The clusters are unusually large and can have 60 or more flowers!  Unlike some Bomareas, this one blooms all year long and doesn't go dormant.

Bomarea prefers moderate temperatures and cooler nights.  It's possible that it will not perform well if temperatures are consistently above 85° F (30°C), especially if nights are warm.  The foliage may be killed by frost, but the tubers should be hardy to at least 25° F (-4°C).  Still, i recommend protecting the plant from freezing temperatures.  You may grow it in a 5 to 10 gallon container and move it to a greenhouse or sunroom over the winter.

A view from behind

Bomarea prefers part sunlight, with some protection from strong afternoon sun. It likes rich, moist soil that is kept moist. Give it something to climb on, like a bush, trellis, or other narrow-diameter structure.  The shoots grow about 10 to 15 feet long, and may be wrapped around a trellis if you have limited space.  The foliage looks somewhat like bamboo leaves, making the plant attractive even without flowers.

Bomarea plants are rarely available, and when they are, they are often of uncertain flower color.  I guarantee that mine are the genuine "Fiesta" shown above.

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For detailed growing tips about this plant, click here.