Jamie Vande Cologne Germany Zone 8 As cut flower, I know no better subject, they really hold well and keep coming in the garden. I planted a few pots of Ligtu hybrids, that polyglot of unruley and overly thankful cultivars, some of which are beautiful, but, let's face it, other than the few named varieties, the seedlings are little more than easy and interesting colour. You really do not need to closely examine the blossoms. Then there is the thug problem! Better love 'em, they ain't going no where once established! I added A. psittacina last year and it languishes, no blooms as yet, but it is shorter! Also, a few shoots are variagated white. I hope this is not a virus or something. Has anyone had experience in this? I had planned on moving it to a better spot, but it's gone too deep, already! A few years back I tried seed of A. pulchella (ligit. name?), A. pygmaea and a few unidentified, wild collected types. I got them to a decent size in pots, but they died in the garden. I now realize that they do not like heavy soils, which is what my Rhein mud is! I take it they suffocated. Interestingly, I find that the related genus Bomarea adapts better to my garden, although they are not as winter hardy as many Alstromerias. Has anyone ever managed to cross these genera? The fine speckling of the Bomareas blossoms is particularly fetching in my eyes. Well, I have a box of Chasmanthe to plant, so, off to the garden! Hope they like it here.