Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Alstroemeria psittacina Lehm.

Synonyms

Alstroemeria pulchella L. f. (misapplied)

Family

Alstroemeriaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia)
Liliaceae (Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia)

Common Names

Christmas lily, lily of the Incas, Inca lily, New Zealand Christmas bell, New Zealand Christmas bells, parrot alstroemeria, parrot flower, parrot lily, parrotlily, Peruvian lily, princess lily, red parrot beak

Origin

Native to South America (i.e. southern Brazil, northern Argentina and north-eastern Paraguay).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is becoming widely naturalised in the coastal districts of southern and eastern Australia. It has occasionally been recorded in south-eastern Queensland, the coastal districts of central and northern New South Wales and in south-western Western Australia. It is sparingly naturalised in Victoria and possibly also naturalised in the coastal districts of southern New South Wales. In addition, it is naturalised on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Also naturalised overseas in south-eastern USA (i.e. Louisiana and Mississippi).

Notes

Parrot lily (Alstroemeria psittacina) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. This garden ornamental has escaped cultivation and become naturalised in wetter coastal habitats, often after being spread in dumped garden waste. It most commonly invades disturbed natural vegetation, shady sites and moist habitats (i.e. riparian areas and the edges of wetlands).

In New South Wales, parrot lily (Alstroemeria psittacina) has been reported spreading into eucalypt woodlands in the Sydney region and is often found in shady sites in other coastal areas. It is listed as an "alert weed" in the Sydney North region and is on the Australian Association of Bushland Regenerators (AABR) list of environmental weeds in the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region. It also appears on a list of backyard escapees for the Newcastle area and is classed as an "undesirable plant" in Wyong Shire and Pittwater Council. Parrot lily (Alstroemeria psittacina) has also been reported from the South East Forests region, near Eden, in the coastal districts of southern New South Wales.

In south-western Western Australia, parrot lily (Alstroemeria psittacina) has been reported growing amongst trees along the edges of creeks and swamps and on creekflats. It is also a minor weed of shady creeklines in Brisbane and other parts of south-eastern Queensland.

Note: A cultivar of this species with variegated leaves (i.e. Alstroemeria psittacina 'Variegata') is also commonly grown in gardens.