Hybrid

Voyage 2 Blue

Eustoma grandiflorum

Photo: Tim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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 Voyage 2 Blue in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Voyage 2 Blue · Zones 8–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil amended with compost; prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH

WaterConsistent moisture; avoid both drought and waterlogging

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorRich purple

Size3"

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

3" fully double blooms in a regal shade of rich purple are lush with abundant layering and ruffling. Group 2, for early spring to summer harvest. Lisianthus is also known as prairie gentian, Texas bluebell, and showy prairie gentian. Pelleted seeds. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Voyage 2 Blue is 140 - 150 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Greenhouse Performer, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

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

Voyage 2 Blue reaches harvest at 140 - 150 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3" 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 cut Voyage 2 Blue blooms last 7-10 days in a clean vase with room-temperature water and floral preservative. Change water every 2-3 days, trim stem ends by half an inch at each change, and keep stems away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit (which produces ethylene gas that shortens vase life). Store cut flowers in a cool location (65-70°F) for longest longevity.

Lisianthus dries beautifully and maintains its color remarkably well. Hang bundles upside-down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks. Dried Voyage 2 Blue flowers are excellent for arrangements and lasting 6-12 months with proper storage. Press individual petals between parchment paper under heavy books for 2-3 weeks to create pressed flowers suitable for crafts, cards, or botanical preservation. Store dried materials in airtight containers away from humidity and direct light.

History & Origin

Voyage 2 Blue is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Nebraska south to Texas.

Advantages

+Stunning fully double purple blooms with rich ruffling and abundant layering effects
+Early Group 2 timing enables spring to summer continuous harvest cycles
+Pelleted seeds simplify sowing and spacing compared to standard tiny lisianthus seeds
+Easy difficulty level makes this variety accessible to beginner and intermediate growers
+3-inch blooms provide substantial cut flower size for professional and home arrangements

Considerations

-140-150 day maturity requires long season planning and early indoor seed starting
-Lisianthus notoriously struggles with root rot in poorly draining or overly wet soil
-Humidity-loving variety may develop powdery mildew in crowded greenhouse conditions
-Slow early growth stage demands patience before visible progress becomes apparent

Companion Plants

Marigolds — especially French types like 'Petite Gold' — are the most practical companion here. They suppress soil nematodes through thiophene compounds released from their roots, and that matters for a crop like Voyage 2 Blue that sits in the ground 140-plus days. Sweet alyssum fills in at 6–8 inches tall without competing for light, and its small umbel flowers draw parasitic wasps that cut into thrips populations before they shred lisianthus buds. Lavender and catmint both deter spider mites through volatile terpenes and are drought-tolerant once established — they won't compete for the consistent moisture lisianthus needs through a long Georgia summer.

Keep sunflowers out of the same bed. Their root exudates and decomposing debris are allelopathic to many ornamentals, and a crop already pushing 150 days in our zone 7 Georgia heat doesn't need that kind of chemical drag. Black walnut is worse — juglone toxicity is broad and persistent — but sunflowers are the more common mistake because they look like good companions and aren't.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Catmint

Deters ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary flower colors

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects, provides long-lasting blooms

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic compounds suppress growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Allelopathic root secretions can inhibit germination and growth of smaller flowers

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Whiteflies, spider mites, thrips

Diseases

Powdery mildew, root rot (in wet conditions), Fusarium wilt

Troubleshooting Voyage 2 Blue

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

Leaves and buds covered in white powdery coating, often first appearing on lower foliage around weeks 8–10 after transplant

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — thrives in warm days and cool nights with poor airflow
Crowded spacing under 12 inches that traps humidity around the canopy

What to Do

1.Remove and bag the worst-affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Spray foliage with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
3.Space transplants at least 12–15 inches apart next season and avoid overhead irrigation in the evening

Plant suddenly wilts and doesn't recover overnight, stems show brown discoloration at the soil line, roots look brown and mushy

Likely Causes

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) — soil-borne fungus that blocks the vascular system
Root rot from Pythium or Phytophthora, usually triggered by waterlogged or poorly drained soil

What to Do

1.Pull and discard the affected plant — do not compost it; Fusarium persists in soil for years
2.Work in 2–3 inches of coarse perlite or pine bark grit before replanting if your bed stays wet after rain
3.Rotate lisianthus out of that bed for at least 3 seasons; NC State Extension recommends full ornamental rotation to reduce Fusarium pressure

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus take to grow from seed to first bloom?▼

Voyage 2 Blue reaches first bloom in 140-150 days from seed. Starting indoors 10-12 weeks before your last frost and transplanting after frost gives blooms in early summer. The 4-6 week seedling stage is the slowest phase; once in the garden and established, flowering happens relatively quickly. This long timeline is typical for Group 2 lisianthus and is why early seeding is critical.

Can you grow Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus in containers?▼

Yes, Voyage 2 Blue performs well in containers 5-7 gallons or larger with drainage holes. Use quality potting mix (not garden soil), and be more vigilant with watering since containers dry faster than in-ground beds. Position containers where they receive 4-6 hours of sun daily. Container plants often produce fewer, shorter stems than garden plantings, but blooms are still full and beautiful for arrangements.

Is Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus good for beginners?▼

Voyage 2 Blue is moderate-difficulty for beginners because seedlings require careful tending indoors, but it's forgiving once established in the garden. The learning curve is mainly in the seed-starting phase and maintaining consistent moisture. If you can keep seedlings alive and avoid overwatering outdoors, you'll succeed. Start small (12-24 plants) to build confidence before scaling up.

What is Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus used for?▼

Voyage 2 Blue is grown primarily as a premium cut flower for fresh arrangements, wedding bouquets, and florist work. The fully double ruffled blooms and rich purple color make it especially valuable. Home gardeners also grow it as a garden ornamental for its dramatic flowers, and it dries exceptionally well for permanent arrangements and craft projects.

Why are my Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus seedlings dying?▼

The most common cause is overwatering, which triggers damping-off fungus and root rot in tiny seedlings. Keep seed-starting mix consistently moist but not waterlogged. Use sterile seed-starting mix, provide strong light, ensure good air circulation with a small fan, and avoid cold temperatures (keep soil at 70-75°F for germination). Water from below with a tray rather than misting if possible.

When should I plant Voyage 2 Blue lisianthus outdoors?▼

Transplant seedlings into the garden after your last frost date and when soil has warmed to at least 60°F (ideally 65°F). Lisianthus is sensitive to cold soil and will stunt badly if planted too early. In most zones, this means late May to early June. Soil temperature matters more than air temperature—check with a soil thermometer if you're unsure.