eneral Description
Lisianthus, grown for lovely flowers, is a native of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a biennial, but often grown as an annual. The gray-green, clasping leaves are oval to oblong and opposite on erect, branching stems. Flowers are cup to bell shaped and borne in the upper leaf axils (the joint between the leaves and stems) during the summer. Color of the flowers may be white, pink, blue-violet or lavender with a dark center. The fruit is an elliptical capsule bearing many dust-like seeds. There are many cultivars including dwarf and double-flowered selections for garden use and commercial cut flower production.
Lisianthus is lovely as a bedding plant. Plant in full sun and well-drained, rich, moist soil after the danger of frost has past. Lisianthus is slow growing from seed and takes many months to reach flowering size. Seeds should be sown early in protected locations for early flowering. Pinch the stems for bushier plants. Tall growing selections may require staking to keep the flowering stems upright. Lisianthus is adaptable for use in containers, borders, cutting gardens and greenhouses.