Eustoma grandiflorum , or Lisianthus, is a flowering biennial in the gentian family, native to the mid-western United States that will survive the winter temperatures of USDA Zones 8-10. It is often considered an herbaceous perennial, but it is more typically grown as an annual. Flowers grow on single or branching stems and bloom from summer to first frost. Flowers are very showy in pink, white, and lavender and make good cut flowers. It does best in average, moist, well-drained soil with full morning sun and afternoon shade. The plant is noted for good drought tolerance. Because the seeds are very small and it can take months for a plant to mature from seed, it is more often purchased and transplanted. If you wish to grow from seed, start the seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before last frost. It can take about 5 months from planting to first bloom. You can pinch back the plant to encourage branching. Cultivars typically grow 18 to 30 inches tall, although some dwarf varieties only reach 6 to 8 inches tall. The dwarf plants are effective in pots or as houseplants. Cultivars also offer a range of flower colors including shades of pink, blue-violet and white. Some double-flowered varieties are also available. Lisianthus is an excellent cut flower. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Look out for viruses and stem cankers. It is susceptible to a number of fungal diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Three to five veined, stem-clasping, gray-green leaves to 3 inches long.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Large gentian-like flowers (to 2” across) with flaring pale purple petal-like lobes bloom in summer from the upper leaf axils. Displays pink, white, and pale purple blossoms from summer to first frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem detail
Erect single to sometimes branching stems rising to 3’ tall