Illustration
Lisianthus
Eustoma
Lisianthus blooms from June through September.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Lisianthus
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 8–11. Expect it to reach about 20 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year (not yet checked).
What was checked
Mature height and spread, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not, and each fact above says which. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Lisianthus
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Lisianthus into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 9, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 9 in February. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Lisianthus get?
20 intall5 ft 7 inan adult12 inwideSee Lisianthus in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Lisianthus
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Lisianthus about 12 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Lisianthus to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Lisianthus' height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags were checked against 6 published sources on July 30, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- Missouri Botanical GardenEustoma grandiflorumheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionEustoma grandiflorumheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- RHSRoyal Horticultural Society plant profile (Eustoma grandiflorum)height, spread, sun and trait tags
- University of Florida IFASUF/IFAS Gardening Solutions (Lisianthus, Eustoma grandiflorum)height, sun and trait tags
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterEustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianumheight and sun
- Swallowtail Garden SeedsLisianthus, Eustoma grandiflorumsun and trait tags
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
Comes in 7 varieties across 6 colors
Same genus, similar care - pick the color you are growing.
Compare every variety in the Lisianthus group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apricot | Orange | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Blue | Blue | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Cream | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Lisianthusthis page | Purple | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Picotee | Purple | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Pink | Pink | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| Rose | Pink | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
| White | White | Jun–Sep | Zones 8–11 | Full sun | 20 in × 12 in |
Good to know about Lisianthus
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
Warm temperatures during the seedling stage make lisianthus form a flat leafy rosette instead of flowering; only a cool spell reverses it. per Plant Science and Arkansas
How much sun
Full sun where summers are mild, but in hot-summer regions give morning sun with afternoon shade to limit heat stress and prolong bloom. per NC State and RHS
Pests: garden vs commercial
In the garden NC State reports no serious insect problems, but dense polytunnel cut-flower crops battle aphids, thrips, whiteflies and leaf miners that also spread viruses. per NC State and AHDB
Top-selling cut flower
One of the world's top-selling cut flowers, with a vase life of roughly 7 to 15 days; a floral preservative and ethylene management extend it. per NC State and Horticulturae
Slow and fussy from seed
Slow and difficult from seed: tiny seeds, slow early growth, about 10 to 12 weeks indoors before last frost. Most gardeners buy started plants or plugs. per NC State and Arkansas
Wants a higher pH
Unusually for a flower, it wants neutral to slightly alkaline soil, about pH 6.5 to 7.2. Below pH 6.0 can trigger zinc toxicity, so avoid acidic beds. per Arkansas and AHDB
Botrytis and Fusarium threats
Its worst diseases, Botrytis (gray mold) and Fusarium, thrive in wet, poorly drained, humid ground. Sharp drainage and watering at the base keep them down. per NC State and AHDB
What pairs well with Lisianthus
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border.
Bergenia
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 4 in, for the front of the border.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both are North American natives.
Little Bluestem
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it; both are North American natives.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it.
Pampas Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 8 ft, for the layer behind it.
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