Images: Farallon Gardens

Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ has really impressed in the garden (and that’s saying something — I grow Proteaceae). But I’m not alone in recognising the wow power of this South American swooner. Check out the images above from Farallon Gardens — they know how to pick plants with presence.
 
The dark foliage sets off those wildfire-colored flowers beautifully. The main show in our inland garden tends to be during the shoulder months of spring and fall, though it’s not unusual to see the odd bloom outside those windows as well. Closer to the coast, expect a show for much of the year.
 
Forms a tidy clump and makes an excellent cut flower — or just leave it be to keep the rest of the garden on its toes.
 
Flower Color: Orange Gold
Bloomtime: Spring-Fall
Height: 2 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Exposure: Sun or Filtered Sun
Soil Type: Good to Medium Drainage
Cold Tolerance: <20f
Irrigation requirements: Low to Medium