The Essential Guide To The Lisianthus
Botanical Name: Eustoma grandiflorum
Common name: Lisianthus
General Knowledge: The Lisianthus, with its rose-like blooms, originates from the warm regions of the Southern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, and northern South America. In Australia, lisianthus is favoured for its long vase life and is extensively used in bouquets and floral arrangements due to its elegance and array of colours. A fun fact about lisianthus is that despite their delicate appearance, these flowers are surprisingly hardy and can withstand the hot Australian climate, which is in contrast to their soft and refined aesthetic.
Colour Range: Lisianthus comes in a variety of colours including white, pink, lavender, blue, deep rose, cream, and some varieties have multicoloured petals or petals edged in a contrasting colour.
Australian seasonal availability: This flower is accessible year-round, although availability might be limited during winter and the onset of spring.
Australian wedding and event season availability: Given its almost year-round availability, Lisianthus is a popular choice for weddings and events across different seasons.
Commercially Grown in Australia: Lisianthus is commercially grown in Australia.
Buying tips: When purchasing Lisianthus, ensure that at least two or three flowers per stem are open, with some buds starting to exhibit colour. Tightly closed buds are unlikely to bloom. Fresh and plump leaves are desirable, while yellowing lower leaves and slimy stems should be avoided.
Design tips and advice: Lisianthus serves multiple purposes in floral arrangements, acting both as a transitional and focal flower. Their blooms come in single, semi-double, or double forms. They fit seamlessly into a multitude of floral designs and are particularly effective in wired wedding bouquets and accessories. Lisianthus beautifully complements a variety of wildflowers, especially flannel flowers.
Flower maturity: Flowers that have at least two or three open blooms per stem, accompanied by some buds showing colour, indicate optimal maturity.
Expected vase life: Lisianthus exhibits an impressive vase life that can range from 7 to 14 days, contingent on care and environment.
Typical stem length: Generally, the stems vary from 40 to 60 cm, though shorter variants measuring between 10 to 15 cm are occasionally available.
Typical bunch size: The number of stems in a bunch can vary.
Floral Preservatives: Use of flower preservative or sugar-water solution can extend vase life.
Ethylene sensitivity: Lisianthus is sensitive to ethylene, though symptoms might take a few days to manifest.
Temperature Requirements: Lisianthus has specific temperature requirements during different growth phases. For instance, seedlings require temperatures between 16-21°C. Once budding and flowering initiate, they can tolerate temperatures above 27°C. When storing, they should be kept at 2-4°C.
How to avoid potential problems: Regularly recut the stems and immerse them in fresh water with added flower food. Removal of aged lower flowers is recommended. One should be wary of Botrytis, a fungal disease to which Lisianthus is susceptible. This makes it crucial to ensure good air circulation and to keep the blooms away from high humidity and dripping water.
Cooling and cool rooms: Keeping Lisianthus in a cool storage environment of 2–4 °C helps maintain their freshness and longevity.
Hydration and vase solutions: It's paramount to keep the flowers hydrated. Customers have reported that a solution consisting of 50% carbonated water (soda water) mixed with regular water can be particularly effective.
Care of ethylene sensitive products: Due to its ethylene sensitivity, it's pivotal to keep Lisianthus away from ethylene sources to ensure they remain vibrant and fresh.