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Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), A Potential Plant for the Cut Flower Market

ID

2906-1312 (SPES-99)

Authors as Published

Andy Hankins, Extension Specialist-Alternative Agriculture, Virginia State University and reviewed by Chris Mullins, Extension Specialist, Virginia State University

A wildflower known in certain western states as Prairie Gentian has fallen into the hands of plant breeders to become a really hot new cut flower species - lisianthus. This flower is beautiful. The blooms are graceful and refined. They resemble rose buds on long sturdy stems. I especially like the deep vibrant blue colors and the white picottees rimmed with blue or pink. This plant is selling very well as a cut flower in both wholesale and retail markets throughout the United States. In 2001 the average wholesale price for lisianthus, mostly from California, was $10 per bunch of ten stems. Premium quality lisianthus brought $1.50 per stem. The florists love lisianthus because it has a long vase life, long stems and a refreshing new look.

 

Lisianthus can grow well in Virginia. Beginning growers who want to maximize production and sales should successively plant plugs or transplants in mid-April, mid-May and mid-June. The most efficient way to grow lisianthus is to plant in wide raised beds at a spacing of 8" X 8". A bed that is 3 feet wide can accommodate four rows. Two rows of drip tape must be used for irrigation. The entire bed should be covered with woven plastic weed barrier, horticultural paper or plastic mulch for weed control. One layer of nylon plant support netting should be placed 16 inches above the bed. Lisianthus is very difficult to grow from seed. The seed is tiny and does not germinate well. All growers are advised to set out transplants grown from plugs rather than from seed. Transplants can be sourced from plug production greenhouses.

 

Two lisianthus varieties recommended for planting in April and May are ‘Echo’ and ‘Mariachi’. These are both double flowering varieties. Color selections include blue, champagne, rose, pink, white, pink picottee, blue picottee and yellow. The florists primarily buy the deep blue color but they buy the other colors as well. From Spring plantings, these varieties will bloom in June and July and will re-bloom in September. If this established crop of lisianthus is left in the field over the winter the plants will bloom once again very well in June of the following year.

 

The one insect pest that can cause severe damage in lisianthus is thrips. Thrips are tiny insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts. Their feeding damage totally ruins lisianthus blooms for commercial sale. Thrips can be controlled organically with a combination of BotaniGard (Beauveria bassiana) and Azatin XL. Thrips can be controlled chemically with Conserve, Thiodan and Mesurol.

 

Originally printed in Virginia Vegetable, Small Fruit and Specialty Crops – January 2002. 


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Publication Date

January 17, 2019