Hybrid

Voyage 2 First Love

Eustoma grandiflorum

Wikimedia Commons via Eustoma russellianum

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 First Love in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Voyage 2 First Love · Zones 8–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained, light, airy mix; lisianthus intolerant of wet soil

WaterModerate; consistent moisture but not waterlogged; drought-tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorSoft blush pink and white bicolor

Size2 1/2-4"

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

First Love is a knockout lisianthus with a soft blush of pink dusted on the edges of ruffled white petals. 2 1/2-4", fully double blooms 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 First Love 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 First Love reaches harvest at 140 - 150 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2 1/2-4" 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 Voyage 2 First Love blooms should be placed in cool water immediately after cutting. Keep arrangements in a cool room (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and ripening fruit, which produces ethylene gas that degrades flowers. Refresh water every 2-3 days and recut stems by ½ inch at a 45-degree angle to maintain water uptake.

For extended storage, place cut stems in a floral preservative solution (containing sugars and biocides) and refrigerate at 35-40°F; blooms will hold for 5-7 days longer than at room temperature. Change water and preservative every other day.

To dry Voyage 2 First Love for long-term preservation, hang stems upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space (60-75°F, low humidity) for 2-3 weeks. Dried blooms retain shape and color exceptionally well and make elegant arrangements lasting months. Alternatively, press individual petals between absorbent paper under weight for 2-3 weeks to create floral bookmarks or craft materials. Silica gel drying (2-3 days) preserves color most vividly but requires careful handling due to fragile petals.

History & Origin

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

Origin: Nebraska south to Texas.

Advantages

+Stunning bicolor blooms with ruffled petals create premium cut flowers
+Fully double flowers with abundant layering provide lush, luxurious appearance
+Early spring to summer harvest timing fits standard growing seasons
+Easy difficulty level makes it accessible to novice growers
+Long vase life typical of lisianthus varieties

Considerations

-140-150 day timeline requires patience before achieving harvestable blooms
-Lisianthus demands consistent moisture and excellent drainage or root rot occurs
-Susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis in humid growing conditions
-Delicate flowers bruise easily during handling and shipping

Companion Plants

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are the most practical companion here. They suppress soil nematodes through a root exudate called alpha-terthienyl, and they draw in thrips predators like minute pirate bugs — which matters because thrips are one of the main pest pressures on lisianthus. Plant them 12 inches out on the border so they don't shade a crop that needs 4-6 hours of direct sun to set buds.

Sweet Alyssum and Cosmos are worth tucking into gaps. Alyssum stays low and draws parasitic wasps and hoverflies, both of which feed on whitefly larvae. Cosmos keeps the canopy open while attracting the same beneficials, and at 2-4 feet tall it won't crowd a 1-3 foot lisianthus planting. Lavender and catnip repel aphids and spider mites through their volatile oils — linalool in lavender, nepetalactone in catnip — and neither competes hard for water once established, which suits lisianthus's preference for consistent but not excessive moisture.

Black walnut trees produce juglone, a root-zone toxin that stunts or kills many ornamentals. The toxic zone under a mature walnut can extend outward as far as the canopy spread, so give lisianthus a wide berth from any established tree. Eucalyptus releases allelopathic compounds from both its roots and decomposing leaf litter, with similar suppressive effects. Fennel is the more common garden mistake — it's broadly allelopathic and tends to set back neighbors planted within 12-18 inches of its root zone.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and hover flies that prey on pests

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests naturally

Lavender

Deters moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Chives

Repel aphids and Japanese beetles with their strong sulfur compounds

Cosmos

Attract beneficial predatory insects and provide habitat for pest controllers

Catnip

Repels ants, aphids, and mosquitoes more effectively than DEET

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Thrips, spider mites, whitefly

Diseases

Damping-off (seedlings), root rot (from overwatering), Fusarium wilt

Troubleshooting Voyage 2 First Love

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

Seedlings collapsing at soil level, stems pinched and dark at the base, within the first 2-3 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping-off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi thriving in wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Overwatering combined with low airflow around trays

What to Do

1.Water from the bottom only — set trays in a shallow dish for 20-30 minutes, then let them drain completely
2.Run a small fan near seedlings for a few hours each day to keep the surface from staying damp
3.If it's already spreading, pull affected cells immediately and drench remaining cells with a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution (1 part 3% H2O2 to 9 parts water)

Leaves stippled silver or bronze with fine webbing on undersides, especially during hot, dry stretches

Likely Causes

Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — they explode in dry conditions above 85°F
Dusty foliage that hasn't been rinsed, which lets populations build unnoticed

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water every 2-3 days — knocks mites off and disrupts reproduction
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides in the early morning or evening; avoid midday application on plants in full sun
3.Keep plants consistently watered — drought-stressed lisianthus is far more susceptible

Established plants wilting despite adequate soil moisture, lower leaves yellowing, and stems showing brown discoloration when cut

Likely Causes

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) — a soil-borne pathogen that blocks vascular tissue; lisianthus is notably susceptible
Root rot from chronic overwatering or compacted soil with poor drainage

What to Do

1.Pull affected plants — there's no chemical fix once Fusarium is in the vascular system; bag and trash them, don't compost
2.Amend beds with perlite or coarse sand before next season to improve drainage, and avoid replanting Eustoma in the same spot for at least 2-3 years
3.For container-grown plants, switch to a well-draining mix and ensure pots have at least one large drainage hole

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Voyage 2 First Love lisianthus take to grow from seed to bloom?▼

Voyage 2 First Love is a Group 2 variety requiring 140-150 days from sowing to harvest-ready blooms. Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your target harvest date, typically in December-January for May-June blooms. Add 4-6 weeks for germination and seedling development indoors, then 8-10 weeks in the garden to reach flowering. Patient timing is critical—rushing the timeline often results in weak plants and poor bloom quality.

Is Voyage 2 First Love good for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, First Love is rated easy to grow and suits beginners who follow two golden rules: never overwater and provide consistent light. Pelleted seeds improve germination success over unpelleted varieties. The main challenge is patience—the 10-12 week indoor start requires planning and warm seedling care. Once transplanted outside, the variety is forgiving. Beginners often struggle with watering restraint and insufficient light for seedlings, so set up proper grow lights and resist daily watering.

Can you grow Voyage 2 First Love lisianthus in containers?▼

Yes, containers work well for First Love if you prioritize drainage. Use a 6-8 inch pot with at least three drainage holes and a light, well-draining potting mix. Container plants dry faster, so monitor moisture closely—never let them dry completely, but avoid soggy soil. Place pots in full sun to partial shade and fertilize every 2 weeks since frequent watering leaches nutrients. Containers are ideal for gardeners in cool climates, as you can move them indoors if frost threatens.

What makes Voyage 2 First Love different from other lisianthus varieties?▼

First Love's defining traits are its fully double, heavily ruffled petals and distinctive soft blush-pink edges on white backgrounds. This bicolor effect is rare in home-garden lisianthus. The 2.5-4" bloom size is mid-range, but the petal count and ruffling create a fuller, more complex appearance than standard varieties. Group 2 timing makes it ideal for early season harvest, whereas Group 1 blooms earlier and Group 3 blooms later.

When should I start Voyage 2 First Love seeds indoors?▼

Start seeds 10-12 weeks before your target harvest date. In most U.S. climates, sow in December-January for May-June blooms. Maintain seedling temperatures of 70-75°F under 14-16 hours of grow light daily. Germination takes 10-14 days. Once seedlings are 4-6 inches tall (about 6-8 weeks), harden off gradually and transplant outdoors after the last frost when soil reaches 60°F.

How long do Voyage 2 First Love cut flowers last in a vase?▼

With proper conditioning and care, First Love blooms last 10-14 days in fresh water with floral preservative. Refresh water every 2-3 days, recut stems at a 45-degree angle, and remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth. Keep arrangements away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and ripening fruit. Cool temperatures (65-72°F) extend longevity. Refrigerated storage at 35-40°F can add 5-7 days to vase life if blooms are held before arrangement.