Layers of Lisianthus

Lisianthus is not one of the traditional standards of the floral industry, but over the last decade it has been gaining popularity at an amazing rate. 

purple lisianthus

Lisianthus’s delicate, unfurling trumpet-shaped blooms of white, purple, cream, peach, pink, or bi-color fully capture the ever-popular wildflower esthetic.  Its dainty buds continue to open along the smooth, green stem, giving the viewer a continual show and making it perfect in progressive bouquets.

pink lisianthus

Lisianthus is native to the warm, dry prairie regions of the Americas, and the particular variety that we grow—Grandiflorum—has been bred to be a long-lasting cut flower.  The name Lisianthus comes from Latin, Lysis meaning “dissolution” and Anthos meaning “flower.”  Those who cite its origins as a prairie flower see it as a token of old-fashioned values and sensibility.  Others see its Greek name and believe lisianthus symbolizes an outgoing and divisive nature.

white lisianthus

Growing Needs

Lisianthus needs a lot of heat and light to grow tall and flower.  They do well in warm, covered hoop houses and greenhouses. They also like very dry soil, so it is important not to let the soil's moisture level become too saturated (the nature of the plant is to have very deep roots, making it more susceptible to soil-born diseases).

Design Practices

Lisianthus is a very popular as a wedding flower.  Designers especially love the fact that Lisianthus has both a long vase life and long stems (2 weeks and 24 inches, respectively).  Its length gives height and visual power.

Lisianthus flower arrangement

The round, delicate, unfurling blooms add elegance and mass to arrangements, and its florets work wonderfully in boutonnieres and corsages.  Its prairie flower look makes it ideal for country-style, au natural, and wildflower arrangements, and its aesthetic screams "American grown."

lisianthus arrangement country