Grow This: Lisianthus.
This is Lisianthus. I saw this two summers ago at a farmers market in Cape May. It looks like a cross between a small rose, and sweet pea. The petals and leaves are delicate, but hardy. The colors and form work beautifully in either a cottage garden or a formal structure.
I grew it from seed last year, and I was thrilled with it. I’m growing twice as much this year.
It did require some patience and forethought. And the seedlings stayed absolutely miniscule for the longest time. But once they got going—they were fantastic. They bloomed past Thanksgiving. Far surpassing every other flower in the garden.
I grew the Cinderella variety, which is a double bloom. I chose Double Mix. And extra packets of blue, yellow, and pink. I didn’t bother with the white.
I did find that I needed to stake it, once it got tall. I see the seed companies claim you won’t need to it, so either they are lying, or I should have been cutting more blooms, and keeping it more compact.
I inadvertently grew Matador Blue as well—which is a dwarf version, and stays petite. It was pretty, but I preferred the height of the Cinderella.
If you’re looking for a spectacular cutting flower, you should look at Benary Giant Zinnia. It’s by far the best flower I’ver ever grown.
August 8, 2013 @ 10:26 pm
I love your very tall Benary Giant Zinnias. They are beautiful. I planted some Zinnias that came from the HD they are only about eight or ten inches tall. Not nearly as dramatic as your giants but they are colorful.
I also love Lisianthus so pretty. I had no idea they could be grown by seed which will be my next order to my favorite seed co.
Another favorite of mine is Heliotrope it has purple flowers and smells wonderful. It is an old fashioned flower.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful flower bed. I’ll be looking forward to seeing more pictures of what ever else you plant even your veggies.
I love reading your blogs. Keep on writting.
August 9, 2013 @ 9:11 am
You’ll love the Lisianthus!! Be sure to read up before starting the seed… It really takes FOREVER to grow, so you need to start extra early… but SO worth the effort!!
August 21, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
I totally forgot about this old beauty! My Grammie used to grow it, and in all of my gardening glory, I completely forgot about it. I will have to rectify that immediately…meaning as soon as I get my Gurney’s or Burpee cataloges. I can get them online, but I adore getting these cataloges in the mail in late January. It feeds my spring fever which usually starts right after Thanksgiving! Also, may your cutting guide be used for roses? My mother has an old rose in front of her house which is just heavenly. It is pink, amazingly resistent to all rose issues and Oklahoma heat. It blooms heavily once in the spring and then only sporadically throughout the summer, but the smell is just fabulous. Think if your gilt mirrors had a smell…that would be this rose. In short, I want this rose, but mom is not parting with it, so I need to take a cutting. I have been gardening all my life, and I cannot seem to get a cutting from a rose to root. Any ideas?
January 26, 2014 @ 4:26 pm
Lori, my grandmother was telling me about rooting rose cuttings in a potato. I’ve seen references to it online but haven’t yet tried it myself. Grandma has and it’s worked fantastically for her.
January 26, 2014 @ 4:25 pm
I wonder if I can find the seeds in Canada?
February 15, 2021 @ 2:19 am
A thought…maybe a calcium supplement would strengthen your lisianthus stems!