Hybrid

Solo® White

Eustoma grandiflorum

Photo: Joydeep · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Novel 1-1 1/2" wide pollen-free blooms offer extended vase life. The absence of messy pollen makes Solo® an excellent choice for wedding flowers and wearable flowers such as corsages, boutonnieres, and flower crowns. Single flowers display a slight but distinct flared shape at the petal edge. Multiple pure white flowers are held upright on sturdy stems. Group 2, best suited for spring production. Lisianthus is also known as prairie gentian, Texas bluebell, and showy prairie gentian. Pelleted seeds.

Harvest

140-150d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

8–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Solo® White in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Solo® White · Zones 8–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, slightly acidic to neutral, organic matter-rich

WaterConsistent moisture, moderate; avoid waterlogging and drought

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPure white

Size1-1 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed.

Harvesting

Solo® White reaches harvest at 140 - 150 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1-1 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Solo® White blooms last 10-14 days in a vase when properly conditioned and maintained. After cutting, immediately re-cut stems under running water and place in a clean vase filled with cool water and floral preservative. Store cut flowers in a cool location (65-72°F) away from ripening fruit and direct sunlight. Change water every 2-3 days and re-trim stems by ½ inch.

For preservation, lisianthus flowers dry exceptionally well due to their petal structure. Hang-dry small bunches upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space (70-75°F) for 2-3 weeks. Dried Solo® White blooms retain their form and color beautifully for 6+ months, making them ideal for wedding keepsakes, dried arrangements, and craft projects. Alternatively, press blooms between parchment paper under weight for 3-4 weeks to create flat specimens for framing or scrapbooking.

History & Origin

Solo® White is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Nebraska south to Texas.

Advantages

+Pollen-free blooms ideal for weddings and wearable floral arrangements
+Extended vase life makes Solo® White commercially valuable
+Sturdy upright stems require minimal support for arrangements
+Distinctive flared petal edges add elegant visual interest
+Easy difficulty level suitable for beginner growers

Considerations

-140-150 day production cycle requires significant growing time commitment
-Group 2 timing limits Solo® White to spring production only
-Lisianthus requires precise humidity and temperature control indoors

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) and Sweet Alyssum pull real weight near lisianthus. Tagetes patula emits a scent that disrupts how thrips and whiteflies locate host plants, which is genuinely useful given how badly thrips can disfigure lisianthus buds. Sweet Alyssum, kept at 6-8 inches tall, draws parasitic wasps and hoverflies without competing for root space — both are active predators of the soft-bodied insects that find lisianthus irresistible. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, concentrating aphids and whiteflies on themselves before those pests establish on your lisianthus. Zinnias and Cosmos fill nearby vertical space without casting enough shade to matter for a 1-3 foot plant in full sun.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is the one to give a wide berth — its roots secrete juglone, a compound that interferes with plant respiration and is toxic enough to kill lisianthus outright, even from decomposing leaf litter well past the tree's canopy edge. Sunflowers are a quieter problem: they're mildly allelopathic and reliably host spider mites (Tetranychus urticae), which will migrate to whatever's planted close by. Eucalyptus produces volatile terpene oils that suppress growth in neighboring plants, so keep it out of the same bed entirely.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting nearby plants

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for natural pest control

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects while providing complementary colors

Basil

Repels thrips, aphids, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Lavender

Deters pests with its strong scent and attracts beneficial pollinators

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide habitat for pest predators

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and mosquitoes while being drought-tolerant

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants

Sunflowers

Release allelopathic compounds that can stunt growth of nearby flowers

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit seed germination and plant growth

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Whiteflies, thrips, spider mites in indoor production

Diseases

Botrytis (gray mold), root rot from overwatering, damping-off in seedling stage

Troubleshooting Solo® White

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line within the first 2-3 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping-off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi thriving in wet, poorly ventilated conditions
Overwatering combined with a non-sterile seed-starting mix

What to Do

1.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix and never reuse last season's trays without sanitizing them in a 10% bleach solution
2.Water from the bottom only, and run a small fan near seedlings to keep air moving
3.If damping-off appears, pull affected seedlings immediately — they won't recover, and the fungus spreads fast

Gray, fuzzy coating on buds or stems, especially after a stretch of cool, humid weather

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives between 60-77°F with high humidity and poor air circulation
Crowded planting at less than 12 inches spacing that traps moisture between plants

What to Do

1.Remove and bag any affected tissue immediately — don't compost it
2.Space plants the full 12-18 inches apart and avoid overhead watering; drip irrigation or bottom-watering is better for lisianthus
3.A copper-based fungicide applied every 7-10 days can slow spread on unaffected plants nearby

Leaves silvered or stippled, sometimes with tiny dark specks on the undersides

Likely Causes

Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) — common in warm, dry spells and in greenhouse or indoor production
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — also cause stippling and leave fine webbing, often confused with thrips damage

What to Do

1.Check the undersides of leaves with a hand lens — thrips are slender and yellowish, mites are tinier and often leave webbing
2.Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, coating the undersides thoroughly; repeat every 5-7 days for at least 3 applications
3.In a greenhouse, introduce predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) to avoid the spray cycle altogether

Plant wilting despite moist soil, with roots appearing brown or mushy at the tips

Likely Causes

Root rot from overwatering — most often Pythium spp., encouraged by poorly draining containers or heavy clay beds
Containers without adequate drainage, or soil amended with too much moisture-retentive material like peat at depth

What to Do

1.Pull the plant and check the roots; if more than half are brown and soft, it's unlikely to turn around
2.For borderline cases, trim the rotted roots with clean scissors, let the root ball air-dry for an hour, then repot into fresh, fast-draining mix
3.Going forward, water only when the top inch of soil is dry and make sure containers have at least one drainage hole per 6 inches of pot diameter

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Solo® White lisianthus take to grow from seed to bloom?▼

Solo® White takes 140-150 days from seed sowing to first bloom. Starting seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your target bloom date allows for seedling development. After transplanting, plants typically flower within 3-4 weeks once established in their final growing location. This extended timeline makes advance planning essential for commercial production or event planning.

Is Solo® White lisianthus good for beginners?▼

While lisianthus is rated 'Easy' for difficulty, Solo® White requires attention to detail—especially seedling moisture management and consistent light. Beginners can succeed, but this is not a set-it-and-forget-it plant. If you're new to seed starting, consider purchasing transplants or seedlings from a nursery. Once established, the care is straightforward, making it suitable for intermediate gardeners with patience.

Can you grow Solo® White in containers or pots?▼

Yes, Solo® White thrives in containers, making it ideal for patios, balconies, and small spaces. Use 6-8 inch pots with well-draining potting mix. Container-grown plants may require more frequent fertilizing (every 2-3 weeks) since nutrients leach through drainage. Support netting or stakes are recommended as the upright stems can become top-heavy when loaded with blooms. Container production is actually preferred for cut flower growers managing water and harvest timing.

Why are pollen-free flowers valuable for weddings?▼

Pollen stains white wedding dresses, bouquets, and boutonnieres—a costly disaster on the day of an event. Solo® White's pollen-free blooms eliminate this risk entirely, making it a premium choice for bridal work, corsages, and boutonnieres. The pollen-free trait also means you can safely handle blooms without worrying about staining hands or clothing, a major practical advantage for florists and event coordinators.

When should I start Solo® White seeds indoors?▼

Start seeds 10-12 weeks before your target bloom date. In spring production zones (temperate climates), this typically means sowing in January-February for May-July blooms. Count backward: if you want flowers in June, sow in March-April. Lisianthus is best suited for spring production due to its preference for cooler growing conditions before flowering. Summer heat can reduce bloom quality and vase life.

How does Solo® White compare to other lisianthus varieties?▼

Solo® White's defining feature is its pollen-free blooms—not all lisianthus varieties offer this. Its 140-150 day maturity is standard for hybrid lisianthus. The 1-1.5" bloom size is moderate; some varieties produce larger or smaller flowers. Group 2 classification indicates spring production optimization. If you need pollen (for bee-friendly plantings), choose traditional lisianthus. If you want the longest vase life and easiest handling for cut flowers, pollen-free Solo® varieties excel.