Product Description
Alstroemeria Summer Break ('Tessumbreak') (30)ct Flat Proven Winners®
Alstroemeria 'Summer Break' ('Tessumbreak'): A Florist-Quality Peruvian Lily for Your Garden
Alstroemeria 'Summer Break', also known as Peruvian Lily, is a captivating cultivar prized for its vibrant pink blooms, impressive landscape presence, and exceptional cut flower quality. This particular variety stands out for its hardiness, floriferous nature, and tall, sturdy stems, making it a desirable addition to any garden.
What Makes 'Summer Break' Special? 'Summer Break' distinguishes itself through a combination of desirable traits:
- Hardiness: Unlike many Alstroemeria varieties, 'Summer Break' has proven its ability to overwinter in Zone 6 gardens, expanding its growing range and offering gardeners in cooler climates the chance to enjoy these beautiful blooms. While it thrives with well-drained soil and winter protection in Zone 6, it's reliably hardy in Zones 7-9.
- Floriferousness: This cultivar is a prolific bloomer, producing an abundance of flowers throughout the mid to late summer. The sheer number of blooms creates a stunning display of color in the garden.
- Florist-Quality Blooms: 'Summer Break' boasts tall, strong stems topped with perfectly formed, consistent, "cookie-cutter" shaped flowers. These characteristics make it an ideal choice for cut flower arrangements, lasting beautifully in vases for an extended period.
- Vibrant Color: The captivating pink shades of the flowers add a touch of romance and vibrancy to any garden setting.
- Landscape Presence: With a height of 3-3.5 feet and a spread of 2.5-3 feet, 'Summer Break' makes a substantial impact in the garden. It can be used as a border plant, a focal point, or even in container plantings.
Detailed Description: 'Summer Break' features lance-shaped, green foliage that provides a lush backdrop for the profusion of pink flowers. The blooms themselves are characterized by their delicate petals, often adorned with subtle markings or speckles that add to their charm. The tall, upright stems provide excellent support for the flowers, preventing them from flopping over and ensuring a stunning display.
Native Habitat (and Why it Matters): While 'Summer Break' is not native to North America (Alstroemeria originates in South America, particularly the Andes Mountains of Chile and Peru), understanding the native habitat of the species can provide valuable insights into its growing requirements. These plants are adapted to well-drained soils and moderate climates, which helps explain the importance of these factors for successful cultivation in gardens.
Landscaping Design Tips:
- Border Plant: The upright growth habit and vibrant color of 'Summer Break' make it an excellent choice for edging borders and pathways.
- Focal Point: Plant a group of 'Summer Break' in a prominent location to create a stunning focal point in your garden.
- Container Gardening: This Alstroemeria variety also thrives in containers, allowing you to enjoy its beauty on patios, balconies, or decks.
- Mixed Borders: Combine 'Summer Break' with other flowering perennials and annuals to create a dynamic and colorful border display. Consider companion plants with contrasting colors or textures to enhance the visual interest. Good companions might include lavender, salvia, or ornamental grasses.
- Cut Flower Garden: Dedicate a section of your garden to growing 'Summer Break' specifically for cut flowers. This will ensure a constant supply of beautiful blooms for your home.
Planting and Care:
- Planting Time: The best time to plant Alstroemeria 'Summer Break' is in the spring or fall.
- Location: Choose a location that receives full sun to part shade (at least 6 hours of direct sun). Ensure the soil is well-drained to prevent root rot.
- Soil: 'Summer Break' prefers average to fertile soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0). Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting.
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
- Fertilizing: Feed your Alstroemeria plants with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the roots during winter.
- Winter Protection (Zone 6): In Zone 6, provide winter protection by mulching heavily around the base of the plants. You can also cover them with a layer of burlap or other protective material.
- Pest and Disease Control: Keep an eye out for common garden pests such as slugs and snails. Powdery mildew can also be a problem, especially in humid climates. Take preventative measures and treat any issues promptly.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms and prolong the flowering period.
Other Insights for Gardeners:
- Attracts Pollinators: 'Summer Break' is attractive to butterflies and bees, making it a valuable addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
- Long-Lasting Cut Flowers: The blooms of 'Summer Break' last for an exceptionally long time in vases, often up to two weeks or more.
- Deer Resistance: While not completely deer-proof, Alstroemeria are generally considered to be relatively deer-resistant.
Alstroemeria 'Summer Break' is a truly exceptional Peruvian Lily that offers a combination of beauty, hardiness, and versatility. With its vibrant pink blooms, impressive landscape presence, and long-lasting cut flower quality, this cultivar is sure to become a favorite in your garden.
- Height: 0-3.5 Feet
- Spread: 5-3.0 Feet
- Hardiness Zones: 6,7,8,9
- Flower Color: Pink shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Sunlight: Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
- Water Requirements: Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Average to Fertile Soil Quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Midsummer Late Summer
- Attracts Wings: Attracts ButterfliesBee Friendly
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Garden Style: Patio Container, Eclectic
Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Focal Point
Thirty (30) plants per flat (or tray). Approximate Plug Measurements: 3 inches deep x 2 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
