We have news for both the lavender-lovers and the gardeners this week. Lately we’ve been getting quite a few calls about whether the lavender is blooming yet and when it should be best to visit. As we move towards peak lavender bloom in June, we thought it might be good to create a Lavender Bloom Status web page with photos of the progression of bloom for the different varieties of lavender we are growing on the farm. They are quite different—right now, the Munstead, Folgate, and White Spike lavenders have short spikes with buds, while the Hidcote Giant and the Grosso lavenders have just barely started setting buds, with very little color showing. Check it out and see what you think! We’ll be posting new photos approximately weekly, so you can keep up with the bloom. Then come and see the lavender in person, walk the labyrinth, and check out the flower gardens.
For the gardeners in our midst, we have a special treat—lisianthus starts! Also known as Prairie Gentian or Prairie Rose, this beautiful flower is easily mistaken for a rose, but it is an annual grown from seed. Long stems and no thorns! It starts blooming in late summer and continues for almost 2 months. You can cut a few for the vase and leave some on the plant for the yard. It is rare to find these plants in nurseries, as they are difficult to start from seed, growing verrrrry slowly for the first several months from nearly microscopic seeds to teeny, tiny seedlings that you think can’t possibly make it to maturity. But they do. We started ours in December and are just now planting them out for our cut flower production. You can grow lisianthus easily in containers, as they don’t take up much space. We use about a 6″ spacing between plants. They love sun and rich, fertile soil and need moderate water. They don’t like acidic soils—the pH should be between 6.5 and 7.0 for best performance. A soil test kit can tell you whether you need to add some lime to bring the pH up before planting.
We have several different varieties of lisianthus to choose from. Photos below—click to expand. Stop by and pick up a few for your garden! We’re open Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
Love your updates!!!!
Susie these roses are beautiful. Wished you were closer to home because I would have some of the lavender colored ones. Beautiful!!!! Wish you were closer to VA. Well continue with these beautiful pics. Will see you later July??? Debbie Thompson Fowler Love your page
I was wondering if Lisianthus is native? I’m learning about attracting pollinators and am collecting info on what is best to plant. Sure would love to plant some of these gorgeous flowers.
Thanks in advance for your help
Lisianthus is a North American native plant, found in the warmer regions of the country in Midwest grasslands (hence the nickname Prairie Gentian). I’m not sure if it is native to California, but I suspect not. Lisianthus flowers are visited by pollinators; if you’re planting for pollinators, be sure to select the varieties with open centers (both Picotees varieties are like this0 so the bees can access the pollen and nectar.