How to Grow Lisianthus: 10 Tips for Growing Lisianthus
On a whim, I picked up a six-pack of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) at a local nursery several years ago. It was worth a try to see if they would survive the incredibly hot summers here in the low desert of Arizona. I wasn’t sure how to grow lisianthus, and I was shocked when they grew well all summer and some returned the following spring! The beautiful rose-like blooms were a pleasant surprise.
Lisianthus is now a summer staple in my low desert Arizona garden. Learn how to grow lisianthus with these ten tips.
10 Tips for How to Grow Lisianthus
1. Plant lisianthus from plugs or transplants
- Lisianthus is tricky for seasoned nursery professionals to grow well from seed. Leave the sowing to the experts and purchase transplants or plugs. Local growers, nurseries, and online retailers may all sell lisianthus starts. Look for plugs or transplants with buds beginning to grow to ensure flowers are on their way.
- Space lisianthus transplants about 4 inches apart. Most lisianthus plants grow tall, and spacing plants closely help them support one another as they grow. Transplant plugs and transplants a little higher than soil level to avoid stem rot.
- Keep lisianthus transplants well-watered for at least two weeks. Do not allow it to dry out.
- For square foot gardening, plant up to 8 lisianthus per square. Wider spacing yields larger plants.
2. Grow different varieties of lisianthus
- Lisianthus varieties vary in height and color.
- If you are growing lisianthus in containers, choose shorter varieties.
- Longer-stemmed types of lisianthus will require staking or netting to stay upright.
- Typical colors for lisianthus are cool tones of purple and pink.
- Blooms are typically single or double types.
- Choose a variety you enjoy and that suits your needs.
3. Plant lisianthus at the right time
Transplants need 2-3 weeks of cool soil during transplant to prevent “rosetting.” Plant after your area’s last frost date.
In the low desert of Arizona, plant lisianthus from February to May. Planting as early as possible in the season may yield a better result.
Planting it early in the season gives lisianthus plenty of time to establish before summer heat in hot climate areas. If you plant later in the season, provide shade for new transplants until they are established.
The Arizona Annual Flower Planting Calendar helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. It’s available in my shop.
4. Give lisianthus the type of soil it needs to grow well
Lisianthus prefers neutral or even slightly acidic soil. Soil that is too alkaline will cause yellow leaves and overall poor health. Aim for a pH between 6.5 and 7.0.
Plant lisianthus in well-draining, rich soil with plenty of compost and organic matter. Raised beds are a good choice for growing lisianthus.
5. Choose a location with plenty of sunlight
Lisianthus is native to prairies and fields in the southern United States and Mexico and prefers warm, dry air. Cool humid locations may have difficulty growing lisianthus.
Choose an area in your garden to plant lisianthus that gets full sun. Lisianthus benefits from some afternoon shade if you live in a hot summer climate like the low desert of Arizona.
6. Water and feed lisianthus correctly
- Lisianthus prefers moist but not soggy soil.
- Avoid getting water on the leaves. Using a drip system is an effective way to water lisianthus.
- If fungus gnats are an issue, let the top inch of soil dry out a bit between waterings.
- Mulching soil will help retain moisture and keep weeds down.
- Lisianthus benefits from rich soil and regular feeding from a flower fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen (the middle number in the N-P-K formula is higher than the first number).
7. Provide support for tall lisianthus stems
Lisianthus plants grow quite tall, and staking them individually can be tedious. Enter trellis netting – a flower farmer’s idea for vertical gardening you can add to your garden.
- Use pole supports in each corner and stretch the net between the poles. I used this trellis netting from Amazon.
- The netting is held taught between the four stakes.
- Cut off the excess netting.
- The flowers grow up and are supported by the netting.
- For taller flowers, use two layers of netting several inches apart.
8. Encourage more blooms
Pinching back lisianthus transplants results in smaller stems but more blooms. Unpinched stems will be longer.
Remove the first bud/flower. This saves resources for the later flowers.
After the first flush of blooms, cut the stems back. Water and fertilize well to encourage an additional flush of blooms. This results in a more uniform set of second blooms.
For a less drastic approach and continual blooms, deadhead spent blooms by cutting each bloom back to where it emerges from two sets of leaves. Plants should continue to send up flower stalks while temperatures are warm.
9. Maximize vase life for lisianthus blooms
- Harvest blooms in the morning when temperatures are coolest.
- Remove the first flower and harvest the stem once the second set of flowers is open. The remaining blooms will open in the vase.
- Use sharp scissors or pruners to cut the stem just above the base of the plant.
- Strip all leaves below the water level in the vase.
- Recut stems before adding them to the vase.
- Replace water in the vase every few days as needed.
10. Grow lisianthus as a perennial if you live in a warm climate
This heat-loving flower grows well as an annual in most zones. However, lisianthus is a short-lived perennial and can be overwintered in warmer zones (zones 8-10).
To grow lisianthus as a perennial, cut back plants after the last blooms fade in the fall and mulch well with straw. Cooler zones may use row cover to prevent lisianthus from dying. New growth will emerge in the spring.
The Arizona Annual Flower Planting Calendar helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. It’s available in my shop.
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I wondered, where you bought your lisianthus? I’ve looked for plugs and plant but no luck this time of year. I have found seeds. Thanks for your information. Living in Las Vegas, I really appreciate getting your information and this plant seems like a great fit.
I bought some at a local nursery and some online from Burpee. The Burpee starts shipped a little later than I would have liked and the plants didn’t do as well as the ones I got from a local nursery. Ask your local nursery if they will have them this spring.
@Janet, I found a lot of selection at SummerWinds, which I think is a national chain
Thanks!
Hello, I am writing from Northern California – Zone 9B and have a question on how to treat the spotting virus that are developing on my Lizzie’s which are about 6-8″ tall. I bought a product called Procidic® RTU that I am supposed to spray on the foliage. Do you have any experience with this product fighting off fungal leave diseases? This is described “This Broad Spectrum Fungicide/Bactericide Works On Contact and Systemically”. Darn Lisianthus anyway – I love these so much and I order these “tiny” plants from Burpee every year. Last year it was fungal gnats – this year a spotting virus on the leaves that is causing the plant foliage to turn yellow. (UGH) Any help that you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙂
I haven’t used that product before. So sorry you’re having issues.
“Lisianthus benefits from rich soil and regular feeding from a flower fertilizer that is higher in potassium than nitrogen (the middle number in the N-P-K formula is higher than the first number).”
Do you mean potassium or phosphate? Potassium is the last number (K), phosphate is the middle number (P).
Potassium’s chemical symbol comes from an old name for potassium: kalium (as in alkali).
You’re right! My mistake. I corrected the post. Thank you for the heads up!
Purchased my Lisianthus from a garden center. They bloomed great for a while then quit! They are in a barrel on my front porch in sun/partial shade. I deadhead them or remove the dead bulbs. They have quit blooming! Same thing is happening to my Balloon Flowers that are in full sun! What to do????
Depending on how long your growing season is you may only get one flush of blooms from lisianthus. After the first flush of blooms, cut the stems back. Water and fertilize well to encourage an additional flush of blooms. This results in a more uniform set of second blooms. https://amzn.to/3iZGdPw
Hello. Have you thought about starting seeds outdoors in trays, around late October? I am thinking about it this year, since it seems like you need a lot of plants to fill an area. Berridge Nursery has a nice planting of purple ones near the rose section; it is really amazing.
Great idea. I should give them a try. They can be tricky and time-consuming, but might be worth the hassle. You can also buy plugs from Farmer Bailey online.
@Angela Judd, I started them from seed and had grow lights 5000 on 16 hours a day . I planted them in February. The hardest part is waiting for them to come up. They are so tiny. I watered them with an eyedropper. I live in PA and keep the heat at 68 so they are slow growing. When the are larger, water from the bottom. They are in pots and blooming beautifully. if you have the time and love it is definitely worth it. A great source of information is from a farm in upstate NY called Flower Hill Farm . Nicole, the owner , had Youtube videos. She is fantastic, and a riot. Happy gardening
This is wonderful information. Thank you so much for sharing. I’ll definitely check it out. Thank you.
Pinching results in more blooms, not fewer.
Ha! You’re right, thanks for pointing out the error. Appreciate it.