Modern-day growers have expanded the Alstroemeria palette way, way beyond the ruby-and-gold stripes we are used to seeing in bouquets propped up in our supermarket trolleys. The catalogues these days are full of Raspberry Reds, Watermelon Pinks, Lemon Yellows, Tangerine Oranges, Lavender Blues, near black maroons, even crisp Whites brushed with peppermint green. Breeders in Holland and the UK led this colour coordinated charge but Australian hybridisers now provide their own heat tolerant lines tailored to our extended summers.