I also responded to your post on the Lilies forum, so might want to check there as well. Alstroemeria are not true bulbs - what appear to be bulbs or tubers are actually just enlarged or swollen roots that are water storage organs. Alstroemeria are available as started plants (in containers) or by seed. If you do a google search, you will turn up a few online sources - Plant Delights Nursery in NC has one of the better selections of hardy alstroemeria......not all varieties are and the ones you find as cut flowers in the grocery or at florists are unfortunately not. Seeds are available through Thompson and Morgan and Jelitto, but these will be hardy hybrid mixes, not named forms.

I've attached an older posting on this forum that explains it a bit better :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Old alstroemeria post

Thanks gardengal, I had seen a couple places that sold them but was looking for a specific color. Now that I think about it the colors of the ones I was looking for are the ones from Kroger and they might not come in those colors for the shorter varieties. Our Lowes has sold them some but they are always the same color. A great local nursery has sold them 2 years but didn't last year so I will check with them to see if they can get a few at least. Thanks for your help. Judy

Hello

I did some research a couple of years ago because I was looking for nice tall yellow gold alstros that I see at my grocery store. The tall alstromeria you see at the grocery store and florist cannot be bought as plants. It is patented I think.

The tallest yellow alstro plant that I bought was at my local nursery. It was called the "third harmonic". It has an orange yellow bloom. The one gallon pot cost me $15.

I also bought a yellow alstro plant from a catalog . It was a total disappointment because it had only three little roots that never matured into a plant.

The ligtu and Dr. Salter hybrids, which can be obtained easily by seed (if not by the plant), grow quite tall - upto 3' or so - and are generally in the yellow, gold and orange colors. These also tend to be some of the more aggressively spreading and reseeding forms so be aware!