The Parrot Lily (Alstroemeria psittacina) is a gorgeous tropical from Brazil with exotic, feathery blooms reminiscent of parrots!  The trumpet-shaped flowers demand attention, with their unusual combination of crimson and light green.  This easy-to-grow Lily relative adds a tropical touch to any garden, even if grown in a pot.  The blooms make excellent cut flowers, often lasting 2 weeks in a vase.  Hummingbirds love this plant as much as people do!

The Parrot Lily is a tuberous perennial with lush, green foliage about 12-18" tall.  From late spring through fall, 2- to 3-foot tall flower stalks appear, each topped with about 5 to 9 flowers in a radial pattern.  The species name psittacina is Latin for "parrot".  The plants multiply through offsets, and they also spread easily by seed.  A border or bed of Parrot Lilies is an impressive sight, but even a single plant in a pot is quite a treat!

The Parrot Lily is easy to grow.  The tubers are hardy to Zone 7 or 8, depending on how deep they're planted.  In colder areas, simply grow it in a pot and bring it indoors in the winter.  It enjoys sun, however in warmer areas like Florida and Texas, it will do best in filtered afternoon sun.  It spreads readily, and in fact can become invasive in warmer climates, so be careful where you plant it.  Here in mild San Francisco, it can bloom all the way into winter.  More growing tips for it are here.

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