How to grow Lisianthus

Eustoma russellianum · Eustoma, prairie gentian, Texas bluebell

Lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum) — a prairie wildflower from the central United States, a biennial grown as an annual, with rose-like single or double flowers in white, pink, purple, green and picotee shades from summer to the first frost. It is one of the longest-lasting cut flowers (about two weeks in a vase), but slow and fussy from seed, so many gardeners buy young plants.

Checked against sources: October 3, 2026

Quick facts

Type	Flower
Family	Gentianaceae
Light	Full sun
Soil pH	6.5–7
Frost	tolerates light frost
Soil for sowing	from 10 °C
Germination	12 days
Seedlings ready	75 days
Where it grows	Greenhouse, Open ground, At home

When to plant

Sow for seedlings about 12 weeks before planting out.

It tolerates light frost: plant out in open ground about three weeks before your last spring frost.

In an unheated greenhouse everything moves about three weeks earlier.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

Greenhouse

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Seedlings	every 2 days	10…18 °C	balanced (NPK), 7 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 21 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 28 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 35 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 42 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 56 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 63 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 70 days into the stage
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Seedlings	every 2 days	10…18 °C	balanced (NPK), 7 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 21 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 28 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 35 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 42 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 56 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 63 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 70 days into the stage
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Seedlings	every 2 days	10…18 °C	balanced (NPK), 7 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 21 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 28 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 35 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 42 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 56 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 63 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 70 days into the stage
Growth	every 3 days	—	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage; balanced (NPK), 49 days into the stage
Flowering	every 3 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Full sun; where summers are hot, full morning sun with afternoon shade suits it.

Soil

Well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.5–7.0. In more acid soil zinc becomes toxic and growth almost stops; drainage must be excellent.

Care

Start seed 12–13 weeks before planting out. Sow the dust-fine (usually pelleted) seed on the surface of a fine seed mix without covering it — it needs light — keep it misted under a clear lid at about 21 °C, and expect seedlings in 10–15 days. Then grow them cool, at 10–18 °C, and feed lightly every week; warmth above about 22 °C makes the seedlings stall in a rosette. Plant out at four pairs of true leaves, about 15 cm apart; hardened plants tolerate some frost and can go out up to 6 weeks before the last frost date. Water when the soil dries — it tolerates drought — and support the stems with netting or stakes. Pinching gives more stems but delays flowering by about 10 days. Flowers come 60–75 days after planting out; cut the plants back after the first flush and a second one follows in about six weeks. Root rots, stem cankers and viruses are the main problems.

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.