Estoma Flowers Explained by Saint Petersburg Florists
Estoma flowers are eustoma, a rose-like bloom from the gentian family that florists in the English-speaking world sell as lisianthus. One stem carries several ruffled flowers and buds, the colour range runs from white and cream to pink, lilac and deep violet, and a well-kept stem stays fresh for around two weeks.
In our Saint Petersburg shops eustoma is among the flowers customers ask about most, and the questions are nearly always the same: how to tell a fresh stem from a tired one, how many stems make a proper bouquet, what goes with it and why the buds stay closed. This guide answers them in the order they come up at the counter, and ends with how to send eustoma to someone in Russia.
Why the name causes confusion
Customers from abroad often write the word as estoma, eustoma or lisianthus and are not sure they mean the same flower. They do: the botanical name is Eustoma grandiflorum, the Russian trade name is eustoma, and lisianthus is the older name still used in Britain, the USA and Australia. Estoma is simply how the Russian word is heard and typed in English searches. If a relative in Russia says they love estoma, any of these names will get you the right flower.
The plant comes from the grasslands of the southern United States and northern Mexico, where the wild form has small bell-shaped purple flowers. Modern cut varieties were bred mainly in Japan and are much larger, with double layers of wavy petals. That is why people who see eustoma for the first time often take it for a garden rose or a small peony.
How to choose fresh eustoma stems
The first thing we show customers is the balance between open flowers and buds. A good stem has two or three open flowers and several buds showing colour; that stem will keep developing at home for a week or more. A stem where every flower is wide open looks impressive today but has little left to give. A stem with only tight green buds may never open fully, especially in a dry, warm apartment.
Look at the leaves next. They should be firm, smooth and evenly blue-green, without yellow edges or dark spots. Petals should feel cool and slightly silky, with no transparent or brown patches at the tips. Gently bend the stem near the cut end: a fresh one is firm and springy, while a stem that has been standing too long feels soft and may already have a slippery base.
Thin stems are normal for eustoma and are not a sign of weakness. What matters is that the flower heads stand upright and do not hang on the stem. Slight nodding of a heavy double bloom is fine; a whole stem bending sideways means it is short of water.
Bouquets we can deliver
How many stems and which companions
Because each eustoma stem branches into three to eight flowers, you need fewer stems than with roses for the same volume. Seven stems already make a neat hand-tied bouquet, fifteen look generous, and twenty-five or more give a lush, wedding-style arrangement. For gifts in Russia, keep the stem count odd; even numbers are reserved for funerals, and older recipients notice this.
In the shop the most popular pairings are eustoma with spray roses, with eucalyptus or pistacia greenery, and with alstroemeria in matching tones. White eustoma with pale hydrangea looks fresh for weddings and anniversaries, while violet eustoma with white chrysanthemums is a long-lasting autumn choice. A single-colour mono-bouquet is also a strong option: it looks calm and expensive and suits both men and women. Ready combinations are in our bouquets catalogue.
Colour gives the bouquet its tone. White and cream suit weddings, newborns and formal thanks; pink and peach are warm and personal; lilac and deep purple read as elegant and respectful, which makes them good for colleagues, teachers and doctors. Eustoma carries no negative symbolism in any colour, so it is one of the safest flowers to send when you do not know the recipient's tastes well.
Keeping eustoma fresh at home
Unwrap the bouquet as soon as it arrives and give it fresh, cool water in a clean vase. Cut each stem by 2-3 cm at a sharp angle and strip the leaves that would end up underwater. If the bouquet came with a water capsule or sponge at the base, remove it before you put the flowers in the vase.
Refresh the water every two days, rinse the vase and trim the stems by about a centimetre. Flower food from the shop is worth using with eustoma: it helps the remaining buds open in full colour. Place the vase in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight, away from radiators and from fruit, since the ethylene from ripening apples and bananas shortens vase life noticeably.
As lower flowers fade, snap them off at the base of their short side stem. This keeps the bouquet tidy and lets the stem feed the younger buds. In our experience, a bouquet looked after this way is often at its best on the fourth or fifth day rather than on the first.
Ordering eustoma to Saint Petersburg and across Russia
Pyat Tsvetov has worked in Saint Petersburg since 2011 and has three of its own flower shops in the city: on Ilyushina Street, on the Obvodny Canal Embankment and on Srednerogatskaya Street. We deliver flowers across Russia, and in Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock, which helps when you live several time zones away and want flowers to arrive early in the morning.
Delivery within a city costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after confirmation. You can also choose an exact time with a 30-minute margin, a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or place the order 1-30 days in advance. All conditions are listed on the delivery and payment page.
You pay online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Delivery is anonymous unless you ask otherwise, and a card with your text is included free. The courier phones the recipient about 15 minutes before arriving; if they are out, we arrange a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, hand the flowers to a neighbour or concierge. For questions about colours, stem counts or timing, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Eustoma problems customers bring back to us
The most common complaint is drooping heads on the second or third day. In almost every case the stems were not recut on arrival or the water was not changed. Recut by 3 cm, wash the vase, refill with cool water and keep the bouquet away from heat; the flowers usually recover within a few hours. If the stem ends are brown and soft, cut above the damaged part.
The second complaint is buds that stay closed. Very small green buds at the top of the stem often do not open in a vase, and that is normal for the variety. Larger buds that already show colour need flower food, clean water and light. Removing faded flowers and the tiniest buds directs the stem's resources to the ones that can still open.
Frequently asked questions
Are estoma, eustoma and lisianthus the same flower?
Yes. They are three names for Eustoma grandiflorum. Eustoma is the name used in Russia, lisianthus is common in English-speaking countries, and estoma is a frequent spelling of the Russian name.
How long does a eustoma bouquet last?
Usually 10-14 days with clean water every two days, regular stem trimming and flower food. Buds continue to open during the first week.
Does eustoma have a scent?
Most cut varieties have almost no fragrance. This makes eustoma suitable for hospitals, offices and recipients who dislike strong floral smells.
Can I pay for flowers to Russia with a foreign card?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, and you can also pay by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay on the site.
Is night delivery possible?
In Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock. In other cities you can choose express delivery, an exact time or one of the daytime windows.
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