Lisianthus on the October Flower Agenda

Delicate flowers in white, pink, red, green, mocha, violet, magenta, purple and near-black, with a rugged disposition and a symbolism to be proud of: lisianthus will be on the Flower Agenda in October. You can download inspiration images of this flower at the bottom of this page and use them free of charge if you credit Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk.

Origin
The lisianthus (Latin name: Eustoma russellianum or grandiflorum) originates from the United States, where it grows as an annual plant in desert and prairie regions, often in riverbeds where the plant has access to fresh water. The name lisianthus is a combination of the ancient Greek words ‘lysis’ and ‘anthos’, which respectively means ‘bitter’ and ‘flower’. The words refer to the bitter taste of some medicinal plants. Just to be on the safe side, we should probably flag up that the plant and flower are not suitable for human consumption.

Assortment
The lisianthus comes in two forms: the single-flowered and the double-flowered. The size of the flowers can range from small to large. It takes ten to twelve weeks to grow from a cutting to a flower, regardless of the time of year. Lisianthus is therefore available throughout the year in a wide range of colours. There are also plenty of bicoloured varieties, which attractively combine white with a colour. A new addition to the range are the varieties with extra-large full flowers and lots of petals. The natural-looking varieties are also increasingly common - these flowers appear to have been freshly picked.

What to look for when buying lisianthus 

• The length, weight (in grams) and the ripeness of the flower (stage 1 to 5).
• Lisianthus must be free of pests and diseases such as botrytis.
• Check that the leaves are not yellow or wilting, and make sure the stems are not crooked or drooping.
• The flowers should not be too raw, particularly in winter, because they will not open.
• Growers pre-treat the flowers to improve the vase life.

Care tips for professionals

• Place lisianthus in clean buckets or vases with clean water.
• Add a preservative to ensure that the flowers open well and that the water is not contaminated by bacteria.
• Make sure there are no leaves hanging in the water.
• Trim a couple of centimetres off the stems with a clean sharp knife or secateurs.
• Possibly remove some sideshoots (disbudding) or leaves for a better vase life.

Display tips for professionals
Lisianthus offers a host of possibilities. From a coffee table bouquet to bridal work, and from classic biedermeiers to modern parallel arrangements - anything is possible. A bouquet consisting simply of lisianthus looks fabulous, or allow the flower to shine in a mixed or field bouquet. Memorial work with white lisianthus flowers, roses, gerberas and Gysophila and supporting foliage from Fatsia (Aralia), Aspidistra and leather leaf fern is a real classic.