Eustoma grandiflorum is
native to North America- and
is found in the prairie from
Colorado to Nebraska and
down to Texas. It is also
called
Eustoma russellianum
and more commonly as
Lisianthus and
Bolero Deep Blue.
Eustoma grandiflorum plant
grows to about
15-inches-tall used and has
a spectacular blue-green
foliage.
Lisianthus has wonderful
flowers which are either
simple or double, and blue
to rose-red depending on the
variety. The flowers usually
are blue color but the
well-bred varieties come in
blue, lavender, and various
shades of pink, white, white
with a purple center and
white with a pink or
lavender rim. Some flowers
have doubled petals and look
much like roses. The leaf is
ovate, simple and arranged
in opposite manner. The
plant however bears no
fruit.
Eustoma grandiflorum flower
grows in part shade/part
sun. It is tolerant to
acidic; slightly alkaline;
sand; loam and clay soils.
It tolerates drought
moderately.
To grow the plant a spacing
of 6 to 12 inches should be
left. It should be sown in
late winter/early spring
(January-February) in free
draining seed compost. The
seed should be covered with
compost, and sealed in a
container inside a polythene
bag after sowing, without
excluding light. Germination
would take after 10-30 days.
Eustoma grandiflorum flower
bloom from May to September
and is a good cut flower.
In spring, the plant
gradually hardens off and
they can be planted outside
8 to 12 weeks after the last
frost date. Pinch young
plants to promote bushiness,
and remove spent flowers to
encourage new blooms.
It is a high maintenance
flower and is primarily
grown as an annual. It is
suitable for borders, beds,
containers, and flower
cutting gardens. The loose,
open habit of the plant
makes it nicely suited for
an informal border. Unlike
many other bedding plants, a
mass planting does not form
a nice, smooth mass of color.
Instead, an irregular mass
of purple covers the ground.
It is used as an annual in
landscapes throughout.
Eustoma grandiflorum is
subject to stem canckers,
and viruses.
Did you know?
·
Lisianthus florets are often
used in corsages.
·
The name comes from the
Greek words
lysis.