Cornell University introduces new, winter-hardy Alstroemeria

Added on 29 November 2023

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Cornell University introduces new, winter-hardy Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria ‘Coral Chaos’

Cornell University has introduced a new, winter-hardy alstroemeria, Alstroemeria ‘Coral Chaos’. This new Inca Lily or Lily-of-the-Incas has peach-colored flowers and survives winter temperatures to USDA winter hardiness zone 5. It is a great, new garden perennial that flowers all summer and fall until killed by frost.

This new hybrid plant is a vigorous-growing Inca Lily with vibrant peach colors. The large flowers on this herbaceous plant have salmon pink petals on the outside and intense yellow highlights and little flecks of brown on the base of the inner petals.

Strong, upright flower stems are produced from underground rhizomes and grow 28-36 inches tall. The flowers make excellent fresh cut flowers that can thrive for up to two weeks in a vase.

This Inca Lily was hybridized by using species that are native to Chile. In states with cool to mild summers they bloom continuously throughout the season from May until frost. In warmer states, Inca Lilies will flower in the spring and early summer until it gets hot, and then rebloom in the fall when the temperatures get cooler. ‘Coral Chaos’ is hardy to the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 5 when grown with good drainage.

(USDA zone 5 includes western Massachusetts, mid-state New York, northern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, much of Michigan, southern Iowa, Nebraska, northern Missouri, Kansas, and eastern Colorado.).

Alstroemeria grow best in full sunlight in a garden that does not have “wet feet”; in other words, the rain water should drain well. Unfortunately, deer love to eat Alstroemeria so they will need protected if there is a deer issue. Alstroemeria grow from underground rhizomes that can be easily divided in the early spring as they begin to grow.