Lisianthus
Lisianthus is the consumer name. The Lisianthus, which according to new botanical insights should actually be called Eustoma, is well liked because of its authentic, natural flower and many colours. Moreover, the Eustoma looks good for a long period.
The Eustoma originates from North America where the plant grows in river beds in the desert and prairie regions. The flower is called ‘prairie gentian’ in the states of Texas, Nebraska, Nevada and Colorado.
Although the Eustoma originates from America, its triumph as a cut flower started in Japan. It was Japanese breeders who started to crossbreed the prairie gentian in the 1930s. The current range is the product of that crossbreeding in Japan. That is why this flower is known in Denmark as the ‘Japanese rose’.
Eustoma literary means ‘with a good mouth’. ‘Eu’ means ‘good’, ‘stoma’ means ‘mouth’. The name refers to the wide-open flowers.