Meet the Flower Everyone Falls in Love With: Lisianthus

If you've picked up flowers from The Bloomstead this month, chances are you've taken home one of my favorite flowers without even realizing it. It's called lisianthus (pronounced liz-ee-AN-thus), and it has quietly become one of the stars of my summer garden.

Unlike roses, which most people recognize immediately, lisianthus is a flower that makes people stop and ask, "What is THAT?" It has delicate, ruffled petals that almost look like tissue paper, comes in some of the softest colors imaginable, and has one of the longest vase lives of almost any cut flower. It's elegant enough for weddings but just as beautiful tucked into a simple bouquet on your kitchen counter.

This year I grew several colors, but one variety completely stole my heart: Corelli Apricot. It's difficult to describe because it changes throughout the day. Sometimes it looks creamy peach. Sometimes warm blush. Sometimes it catches the evening light and almost glows. It's exactly the kind of flower that reminds me why I love growing seasonal blooms instead of ordering flowers shipped halfway around the world.

Growing lisianthus also requires a little patience. The seeds are started six months before they ever bloom. By the time you're enjoying them in July, they've already survived a long journey from greenhouse trays to early spring planting, summer heat, and countless hours of care in the field. They're definitely not the easiest flower to grow—but they're worth every bit of the effort.

That's one of the things I love about seasonal flowers. Every bouquet tells the story of what's happening in the garden right now. A few weeks from now, lisianthus will begin sharing the spotlight with dahlias, celosia, and all the late-summer flowers that make this season so special.

Until then, I'll happily keep cutting every stem I can.

If you happen to receive lisianthus in one of your bouquets this summer, I'd love to know what you think. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites—and I have a feeling it might become one of yours too.