The genus includes both herbaceous and shrubby species.

The genus is native to Central and western South America, from south Mexico to Peru and Chile.

[1] Alonsoas grow to around 30–100 cm tall, and have small, broadly oval, serrated leaves.

The red, orange, yellow, white or occasionally blue flowers are borne on a loose terminal raceme.

The alonsoa is named after Zenón de Alonso Acosta, a Spanish official in Bogota, Colombia.