- Botanical name: Eustoma grandiflorum
- Common name: Lisianthus
- Family: Gentianaceae
- Plant Type: Annual
Peach
Pink
Red
White
Yellow
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
Eustoma grandiflorum, better known as lisianthus, is a cut flower that is much loved for its rose-like appearance and extremely long vase life. Native to grassland areas of the USA, it is also known as Texas bluebell, prairie gentian or Japanese rose.
Lisianthus are usually imported as cut flowers to the UK, but it’s possible to grow your own from seed or plugs, either for a cut flower patch or a cottage or herbaceous border. Lisianthus come in a wide range of colours, including white, yellow, pink, purple, lilac, apricot and lime green; the flowers can be single or double and some are bi-coloured.
Lisianthus have a reputation for being a little tricky to grow – the tiny seeds need heat and light to germinate and high temperatures when the plants are growing on may result in ‘rosetting’ (stem elongation inhibition).
If you can, buy pelleted seeds as these are easier to sow. Sow seeds in late winter or early spring, onto the surface of moist, well drained seed compost. For the best results, use a heated propagator at around 20-25°C. Do not cover the seeds, as light is needed for germination, which can take up to three weeks. Pot on into individual 9cm pots once around four true leaves have developed and grow on at a temperature of around 18°C. Harden off in spring before planting out in a sheltered, sunny spot after the last frosts, around 20cm apart. The soil should be rich and moist, but well drained. Use twiggy sticks as support. Water well initially, reducing as the plant establishes. Lisianthus can also be grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
Where to buy lisianthus seeds online
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How to grow Eustoma grandiflorum
-
Plant size
75cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
-
Spacing
20cm apart
20cm between
- Sun exposure: Full sun
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sow | ||||||||||||
Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
Plant | ||||||||||||
Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Flowers | ||||||||||||
Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
At its best | ||||||||||||
At its best |
J
Plant is not at its best in January |
F
Plant is not at its best in February |
M
Plant is not at its best in March |
A
Plant is not at its best in April |
M
Plant is not at its best in May |
J
Plant is not at its best in June |
J
Plant is at its best in July |
A
Plant is at its best in August |
S
Plant is at its best in September |
O
Plant is not at its best in October |
N
Plant is not at its best in November |
D
Plant is not at its best in December |
Eustoma grandiflorum and wildlife
Eustoma grandiflorum has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Eustoma grandiflorum poisonous?
Eustoma grandiflorum has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People