Cultivation Of Crops: Learn About Lovely Lisianthus

Always outgoing

Lisianthus stood for that
Among hidden flowers
Lisianthus stood out
In hidden bushes
Lisianthus was distinguished
If all could be that
Lisianthus was never shy
It would be a beautiful world
With all like Lisianthus.
-Grace Amorue

Lovely Lisianthus

It’s prime Lisianthus time on our Oxnard farm. This beautiful flower is not one of the traditional standards of the floral industry, such as lilies and tulips. Interestingly “Lizzy”, as our sales reps call it, is relatively new to the flower buying consciousness. In the last decade it has been gaining popularity at an amazing rate. We have been growing this crop for about seven years, and the demand just keeps rising.

Lisianthus roots lay in the Americas with several variations of the plant growing wild. Most notably a variety with the common name Texas Bluebell found growing naturally in the vast prairies of Texas. The species we grow is named Grandiflorum and it has been bred as a stand out cut flower. The name comes from Latin, Lysis meaning “dissolution” and Anthos meaning “flower.” Some citing its history as a prairie flower see it as a token of old-fashioned values and sensibility. Others looking at its Greek name suggest that lisianthus symbolizes an outgoing and divisive nature.

Lisianthus at Sun Valley Floral Farm 2013

Sun Valley Lisianthus varieties.

Lizzy is winning the hearts and minds of designers and consumers alike because it is extremely versatile. It’s origins as a prairie flower make lisianthus ideal for “country style” arrangements, with a strong American grown feel. The many blooms can lend an unmanicured feel to any bouquet that naturally twangs.

With a little more direction these same blooms can be formed into dramatic patterns in a contemporary bouquet. The average length for this crop is 24 inches, so lizzy can give big height and visual power to a modern arrangement.

Sun Valley Lisianthus with our Salal

Personally, I feel the best use lizzy is in the romantic style. The charming personality of the blooms as they unfurl is just gorgeous and harkens back to another age. Lisianthus have a very feminine feel. With the buds tucked into a bouquet, letting a few escape, it is reminiscent of a women’s hair put up for a formal affair, allowing a few strands to bend down and frame her face.

Recently, I was lucky enough to talk with our head grower, Gerrit Vanderkooy in Oxnard, and ask him some questions about growing lisianthus.

Lily: When do you plant lisianthus?

Gerrit: We bring the lizzy in as a plug, and plant it around the end of September. It grows very slowly, and we hopefully will harvest our first “cut” around Mother’s Day. With this first cut we leave a little stem in the ground, and because the temperature is much warmer in summer we can harvest a second stem from the same plant, about two months later.

Lily: That’s amazing it takes about eight months to grow the first stem, then only two months for the second?

Gerrit: Yes, it is really a desert plant; its ideal conditions are very hot days and cool nights, which is generally what we get in Oxnard during summer.

Lily: What are the challenges of growing Lisianthus?

Gerrit: Weather-wise, we really need the hot temperature for lizzy to bloom; I don’t like cold snaps in the summer! This crop also likes very dry soil, so our team is very conscientious of the moisture in the soil. The nature of the plant is to have very deep roots. This opens it up to being more susceptible to soil borne diseases, so we have to be extra vigilant in our hoop houses. Lastly, perhaps the greatest challenge of growing lisanthus is that it can only be planted on soil which has never grown lisianthus before, what we call “virgin soil”. Luckily, we have plenty of room!

Lisianthus growing in Oxnard,CA

Lily: What’s the most popular color?

Gerrit: Far and away the most popular color is the purple, it is a really rich purple that is very saturated. We grow double blooms, as opposed to the Europeans who still grow the single blooms. The double blooms have much more color, texture and girth than the single. Behind the purple, is the white, then followed by pink, rose and some of the bi-colors, as well as green, cream and champagne.

Lily: Are you seeing any trends with Lisianthus?

Gerrit: Right now this is a really a big wedding flower, especially the pastel colors and the white. The natural look is “in” and lizzy is ideal for this theme.

White Lisianthus

Lily: Thanks Gerrit!

Pastel varieties of lisianthus, with salal.

As you can see lisianthus is bit of a labor of love, but it is a lovely flower with an amazing personality. We will have a steady supply through September, so now is a great time to get familiar with lizzy.