How to Grow and Care for Lisianthus Flowers in Your Garden

Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) plants are colorful, scentless flowering plants usually grown as annual flowers that grow between one and three feet tall. They sprout cup-shaped flowers that come in various colors such as purple, pink, blue, and bicolor types. Their colorful flowers make these slightly finicky plants popular in bridal floral arrangements. Lisianthus plants are drought and heat-tolerant plants that love sunlight and prefer a dry, less-humid environment.

Lisianthus flowers can either be single or double-petaled varieties. Single petal versions of lisianthus flowers resemble poppies or tulips, and double petal versions resemble peonies or roses. Some popular lisianthus cultivars include the following:

1. 1. Balboa White: These double-petaled lisianthus flowers grow up to three feet tall and sprout crisp, white flowers with soft yellow middles.
2. 2. Forever Blue: “Forever blue” lisianthus flowers are a more compact version of the plant, growing a maximum of ten inches in height and sprouting soft, purple-violet petals.
3. 3. ABC 2 Purple: This variety of lisianthus blooms as a double flower, with deep, saturated purple hues. Some have been known to reach a height of around four feet tall.
4. 4. Advantage Cherry Sorbet. Advantage cherry sorbet flowers bloom in the summer with double-layered petals that are deep-pink and ruffled. They can grow up to three feet in height.
5. 5. Corelli 3 Apricot: This type of lisianthus sprouts giant flower heads that come in apricot-pink hues with both double and semi-double layering.

Though they are technically warm-season perennial flowers, lisianthus is often planted as an annual in the late summer for a bloom time the following spring. They thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. If you live in a less ideal zone, be sure to plant your lisianthus after the last frost date of spring has reliably passed.

Growing lisianthus can be tricky, as lisianthus seeds are tiny, temperamental, and often take months to germinate. They also need a long, warm growing season in order to sprout the showy flowers they’re known for. Many gardeners recommend you grow lisianthus from seedlings or propagated cuttings rather than seed. Here is how to grow a lisianthus plant.

1. 1. Obtain your seedlings. Head to your local nursery and obtain sprouted seedlings that have at least two to three true leaves (or take a branch cutting from an established plant to propagate).
2. 2. Amend your soil. Lisianthus prefers a less acidic soil pH (between 6.5 and 7.0). Prepare a raised bed for your plant or loosen your soil to ensure it is well-draining. If you’re planting in containers, make sure your pots have drainage holes. Treat your soil with organic matter such as compost or manure.
3. 3. Plant your seedlings. Create a hole in your soil that is large enough to bury the roots up to the bottom leaves. Carefully remove your seedlings from their medium, being careful not to disrupt their delicate root systems when transplanting them. Place your seedling’s roots in the hole, then back-fill the hole with soil. If you’re planting multiple plants, make sure that there is at least six inches of spacing between each plant.
4. 4. Provide water and sunlight. Lisianthus prefers full sun during the daytime with a bit of afternoon shade. Keep your soil moist, but be mindful against overwatering (let the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings). Avoid getting water directly on the lisianthus leaves.
5. 5. Fertilize. To ensure healthy and hearty blooms, fertilize your lisianthus regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer high in potassium. Too much nitrogen will keep your foliage green but inhibit the growth of your flower blossoms.
6. 6. Provide staking. Lisianthus flowers have skinny stems that can mostly rely on each other for support. However, for varieties that grow taller than two feet, you can use stakes and ties to help keep your lisianthus from flopping over.
7. 7. Check for pests and diseases. Lisianthus is mostly pest and disease-resistant, but it can be susceptible to fungus gnat larvae that feed on the roots below the soil. Use a natural insecticide or neem oil to keep your plants free of these pests, or try giving your plants a little less water.

Lisianthus is a florist favorite, as they can add an array of vibrant hues without any scent, allowing you to build colorful bouquets without overpowering the senses. Follow these steps to cut lisianthus for your own DIY flower arrangements.

1. 1. Remove the flower stems. Lisianthus blooms should be removed as soon as they open first thing in the morning when the outdoor temperatures are the coolest.
2. 2. Cut the stems. Use a clean, sharp gardening scissor to snip away the stem above the base of the plant.
3. 3. Place in a vase. If you’re planning on keeping your lisianthus in a vase, fill the container about a third of the way with room temperature water and place your flowers inside. Check where the waterline hits your stems, then pull the flowers back out and remove all the leaves that are underwater. Put your flowers back in the vase and remember to change the water every few days.

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