Lisanthus, even with its delicate appearance, it is quite robust and whilst it is rather well known but hardly celebrated. We’re readdressing the balance in December and giving this magnificent flower the well deserved better praise!
We at the BFA champion the Flower of the Month campaign and provide information and promotion material for Florists and interesting articles to consumers. Our friends at The Flower Council of Holland the masterminds will be promoting the agenda on their consumer website Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk.
Florists: Get involved and showcase this flower, to decorate our interiors in the December months, with its roots in the Wild West it has come to Europe all the way via Japan.
The origin of Lisianthus
The lisianthus originates from North America where it grows in desert riverbeds and in prairie regions. In the states of Texas, Nebraska, Nevada and Colorado they call this plant prairie gentian. In the 1930s Japanese growers crossed the prairie gentian, laying the foundations for today’s range. The lisianthus is sometimes called Eustoma, which is the official scientific name.
Lisianthus shapes and colours
This flower is mostly seen in white and purple, but there is an enormous choice of colour available: the lisianthus comes in white, green, blue, pink, lilac, purple and salmon hues. Some flowers even have petals with multiple colours. The lisianthus also comes in many shapes: single and double flowered, large and small flowered and even with fringed petals. Apart from being colourful, lisianthus petals are also very soft and delicate.
Care
These care tips will enable the flowers to be enjoyed for even longer:
- Select a clean vase and fill it with tap water at room temperature.
- Add cut flower food to the water for a longer vase life. This has a very positive effect on the vase life for lisianthus in particular.
- Cut or trim the stems diagonally by 3 to 5 cm with a clean sharp knife or secateurs.
- Make sure there are no leaves hanging in the water.
- Do not place lisianthus in a draught, in full sun or near central heating.
- Regularly top the vase up with tap water; lisianthus flowers drink a lot because they have thin petals, as a result of which they evaporate a lot of moisture.
- Don’t place lisianthus near a fruit bowl. Fruit emits ethylene gas which will cause the flowers to age more rapidly.
Bouquet recipe: rugged still-life in pink, red and purple
You’ve never seen Lisianthus like this before…
Especially for the festive period at end of the year, the lisianthus will grab attention with a colourful array of bright shades of red and pink.
You will need:
- Lisianthus
- Ilex (holly)
- Amarine
- Limonium (Statice or sea lavender)
Lisianthus symbolism
The lisianthus may have a soft and delicate appearance, but it is sturdy and has powerful symbolism attached to it: this flower represents appreciation, gratitude and charisma. That makes it the perfect candidate for a gift bouquet from someone else… or for yourself, of course!
More about orchids
Consumers can also find more information at Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk
Inspiration and information
Inspiring images of every flower in the Flower Agenda have been produced in line with the Horticulture Sector Trends 2018. These trends are a translation of what our consumers are interested in at the moment and are specifically aimed at the horticulture sector for use both indoors and outdoors.
Florist’s promotional material
Posters to download in your business from top left 1 – 3 from bottom left 4 – 6
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