Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Double Lisianthus

Group/Class:  Echo Series

Brand:  Sakata

Description:

A popular series that is bred ideally for harvesting cut flowers; elegant cup shaped flowers are borne on long, sturdy stems; brightly colored flowers bloom above gray-green foliage from late spring through summer; good for landscapes and containers

Ornamental Features

Echo Blue Lisianthus features showy violet cup-shaped flowers with blue overtones at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall, which emerge from distinctive blue flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its pointy leaves remain grayish green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Echo Blue Lisianthus is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Echo Blue Lisianthus is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Echo Blue Lisianthus will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Echo Blue Lisianthus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.