Alstroemeria pulchra Sims

Horticultural & Botanical History

First described under the name of Alstroemeria pulchra in the Botanical Magazine by Sims in 1823 [BM t.2421/1823].

‘In the species plantarum of Linnaeus only three species of Alstroemeria are recorded: in the Flora Peruviana Ruiz and Pavon have described twenty-three, and given figures of nearly the whole, yet our present plant does not appear to have been included among them, except it may be their Ligtu, which we have before observed appears to be different from what is now so denominated. Of the species which have been introduced into this country there is no one exceeds, or, as we think, altogether equals in beauty, the present plant. It approaches nearest to Pelegrina, but can hardly be considered as a variety of that. In habit and characters it seems intermediate between it and pulchella (No. 2353.) Native of Chili. Communicated by John Walker, Esq.’ [BM t.2421/1823].

‘What elegance there is in this flower [Alstroemeria tricolor]!  Its great creator, whom we are apt to fancy “hidden in secrecy, sits displayed on every visible object”.’  [LBC no.1147/1826]. 

Alstroemeria pulchra was figured extensively in the early 19th century literature under this name and synonyms: A. hookeri [LBC no.1272/1828], the flower depicted has a pink ground colour; A. bicolor [LBC no.1497/1833] - ‘We raised this in 1926, among some of the A. tricolor, of which it is a kind of variety’; A. pulchra  [BM t.2421/1823]; A. flos-martini Ker Gawl [BR f.731/1823] - ‘The seed was imported by the Horticultural Society, and the produce flowered this year for the first time.’; A. pulchra  [OFG. f.185/1854]. Alstroemeria pulchra was introduced to Britain in 1822.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed as Alstroemeria tricolor in all published catalogues [B.30/1843].  Macarthur included Alstroemeria bicolor among desiderata to Loddiges, 6th January 1845.  [MP A2933-2, p.28].

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