Eustoma Flower Plant: How Lisianthus Grows, and How to Keep It Blooming
Eustoma, also sold as lisianthus, is a flowering plant of the gentian family, native to the warm grasslands of the southern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Botanically it is a short-lived perennial or biennial, but almost everywhere it is grown as an annual: tall varieties for cutting and the garden, compact ones as pot plants, all with rose-like or bell-shaped flowers in white, purple, pink, cream and green.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, customers who fall for eustoma in a bouquet very often ask whether they can grow the plant itself. The honest answer is yes, but it is not the easiest flower for a beginner: it is slow from seed and fussy about light and water. Below we go through what the plant needs, which varieties to choose, how to look after a potted eustoma, and how cut stems from a bouquet differ from the living plant.
What kind of plant eustoma is
The species grown commercially is Eustoma grandiflorum, sometimes listed as Eustoma russellianum. In the wild it forms a rosette of grey-green, slightly waxy leaves in its first season and sends up branching flower stems in the second. Breeders have shortened this cycle, so modern varieties flower in the first year from a sowing made in winter.
Each stem carries several buds that open one after another over a couple of weeks, which is why a single stem looks like a small bouquet. Double varieties resemble garden roses or ranunculus, single ones look more like a tulip or a poppy. The waxy leaves and the long, firm stem are typical of the gentian family and explain why eustoma survives travel and heat better than many delicate flowers.
Customers sometimes call it Irish rose, prairie gentian or Texas bluebell; all are names for the same plant. The full colour range and the meanings people attach to it are in our guide to the eustoma flower.
Growing eustoma from seed
Eustoma seed is dust-fine, and this is where most home growers stumble. Sow it on the surface of moist, fine seed compost without covering it, since the seeds need light to germinate. Pelleted seed, coated to look like small beads, is far easier to handle and to space evenly.
Sowing time is early: December to February for flowering in summer. Keep the tray at 20-25 C under a lid or film and give strong light, ideally a grow lamp for 12-14 hours a day in a northern winter. Seedlings appear in two to three weeks and then grow very slowly; in their first two months they may only reach a few leaves, which is normal.
Water seedlings from below or with a fine spray, never letting the surface dry out completely, but also never leaving them waterlogged. Damping off and root rot are the main losses at this stage. Prick out into individual cells once there are two or four true leaves, handling them by the leaves rather than the fragile stem.
Bouquets we can deliver
Eustoma in the garden
Plant out only when the risk of frost has passed and nights stay above 10 C; in the Leningrad region that means early June. Eustoma likes full sun, shelter from strong wind and light, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Heavy, acidic, waterlogged soil is the fastest way to lose it.
Tall cut-flower varieties reach 60-90 cm and need support with a net or canes before they flop. Water at the base, in the morning, and avoid wetting the leaves, which helps prevent grey mould in a damp summer. A balanced feed every two weeks once buds form keeps flowering going.
Cutting the first flowering stem encourages side shoots, and in a warm season you may get a second, smaller flush. In colder climates the plant is treated as an annual and pulled at the end of the season, although some gardeners lift a few and keep them in a cool, bright room over winter.
Potted eustoma on a windowsill
Dwarf varieties, 15-25 cm tall, are bred for pots and are the ones customers usually see in garden centres in summer. Keep a potted eustoma on the brightest windowsill you have, ideally east or west facing; a south window works if the pot is shaded at midday. In a dark room the plant stretches and stops setting buds.
Water when the top centimetre of compost feels dry and empty the saucer after twenty minutes. Eustoma hates both drying out and standing in water, so a pot with good drainage holes and a light, airy mix is essential. Indoor temperatures of 18-24 C suit it while flowering.
Remove faded flowers promptly to keep new buds coming. When flowering ends, cut the stems back to a few pairs of leaves, reduce watering and keep the plant cool, around 10-15 C, until late winter. Many potted eustomas do not flower as well a second year, so most people treat them as a long-lasting seasonal gift, similar to a potted chrysanthemum. Our article on potted plants versus cut flowers explains when each makes the better present.
Cut eustoma: why florists love it
For a florist, eustoma is one of the most dependable flowers in the cold room. A well-conditioned stem lasts 10-14 days in a vase, often longer than roses, and its closed buds keep opening as the older flowers fade. That is why we use it so often in bouquets where the client wants a soft, romantic look without the short life of peonies.
At home, cut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife, strip all leaves below the waterline and use clean, room-temperature water with flower food. Change the water every two days. The petals bruise easily, so keep the vase away from doors and draughts and do not spray the flowers directly.
Eustoma is sensitive to ethylene, like many cut flowers, so do not stand the vase next to ripening fruit. Pinch off fully faded flowers rather than waiting for the whole stem to go, and the remaining buds will open in turn.
Ordering eustoma bouquets in Russia
If you would rather give eustoma than grow it, you can choose a bouquet in our catalogue and send it to a Russian city. In Saint Petersburg, where our three shops are on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, delivery works around the clock. In large cities express delivery arrives 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, or at an exact time within 30 minutes, in a time window, or on a date 1-30 days ahead.
City delivery costs 500 RUB; for suburbs and remote districts the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. Payment is online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, which is convenient for customers abroad.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, delivery is anonymous by default, and the card with your text is free. For questions about varieties, colours or timing, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05. We deliver bouquets across Russia in 1–2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is eustoma an annual or a perennial?
Botanically it is a short-lived perennial or biennial, but in most climates it is grown as an annual. Potted plants can be kept cool over winter, though they often flower less in the second year.
Is eustoma the same as lisianthus?
Yes. Lisianthus is the older trade name for Eustoma grandiflorum, and both names are used for the same plant and cut flower.
Why is eustoma hard to grow from seed?
The seed is extremely fine, needs light to germinate and the seedlings grow very slowly for the first months. Pelleted seed, warmth and strong light make it much easier.
How long do cut eustoma flowers last?
With fresh water, clean stems and flower food, cut eustoma usually lasts 10-14 days, and closed buds keep opening during that time.
Can I order an eustoma bouquet for delivery in Russia?
Yes. Choose a bouquet in the catalogue and pay online; in Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock, and city delivery costs 500 RUB.
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