Hybrid

Voyage 2 Green II

Eustoma grandiflorum

a white and green striped wallpaper with flowers

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 Green II in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Voyage 2 Green II · Zones 8–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, slightly alkaline soil enriched with compost

WaterConsistent moisture; requires regular watering without waterlogging

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPale mint-green

Size2 1/2-4"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Lisianthus takes 140-150 days from sow to harvest, which makes true succession planting impractical for most growers — a second batch of seeds started after the first is already in the ground won't reach bloom before the season closes. If you want a longer cut-flower window, stagger transplant dates by 2-3 weeks instead, using pre-vernalized plugs from a commercial supplier for the later rounds. That's a much more reliable approach than starting new seeds mid-season.

Growers in zones 8-10 with a long enough warm season can push a late-summer sow for fall blooms, but expect slowdowns if nighttime temps drop below 50°F before the plants reach the flowering stage. One planting per season is the realistic expectation for most.

Complete Growing Guide

Pale mint-green 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 Green II 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 Green II 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

Voyage 2 Green II is grown for cutting, not consumption. Immediately place freshly cut stems in room-temperature water mixed with commercial flower food (or a homemade mixture of 1 tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon bleach, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice per quart). Re-cut stem ends and change water every 2–3 days. Vase life typically extends 10–14 days in a cool location away from direct sun, heating vents, and ripening fruit. Remove lower leaves as they age to prevent bacterial growth. For longer preservation, store arranged stems in a cool room (50–55°F) overnight between events—this dramatically extends vase life. Lisianthus does not freeze, dry, or preserve well for later use.

History & Origin

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

Origin: Nebraska south to Texas.

Advantages

+Pale mint-green double blooms are unique and distinctive for floral arrangements
+Abundant ruffling and layering creates lush, professional-looking flowers
+Easy difficulty rating makes it suitable for beginner flower growers
+Group 2 timing allows early spring through summer continuous harvests
+140-150 day maturity fits standard annual flower production schedules

Considerations

-Lisianthus requires consistent moisture and struggles with drought stress
-Pelleted seeds need careful handling as germination rates can be inconsistent
-Fully double blooms may rot in high humidity or poor air circulation
-Group 2 classification limits planting windows for year-round production flexibility

Companion Plants

Marigolds are the most practical companion here. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) produce thiophenes in their roots that suppress root-knot nematodes — lisianthus has fine, delicate roots and doesn't handle nematode pressure well. Plant them in a border 6-12 inches out from your lisianthus bed rather than crammed against the stems. Sweet Alyssum works a different angle: it draws in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that knock down aphid populations, which lisianthus can attract when grown under cover or in a dense planting. Low-growing and shallow-rooted, Alyssum won't compete for water at depth the way a taller companion would.

Zinnias and Cosmos fill gaps in a cut-flower bed without much conflict — they pull pollinators in and don't shade out lisianthus plants that already need 4-6 hours of sun. Keep taller Cosmos varieties at least 18 inches back so they're not blocking the light on a crop that takes 140-150 days to reach harvest.

The harmful companions are worth actual attention. Black Walnut produces juglone, a compound that leaches through the root zone and stunts or kills a wide range of ornamentals — lisianthus roots are not going to shrug that off. If there's a Black Walnut on your property, give your lisianthus bed at least 50 feet of clearance from the tree's drip line. Fennel is allelopathic more broadly and tends to slow down whatever's planted near it; there's no good reason to put it anywhere near a bed you're trying to coax through a five-month grow cycle.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

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

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for pest control

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs naturally

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide natural pest control through companion diversity

Sunflowers

Attract beneficial birds and insects while providing natural windbreak protection

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

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

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions

Troubleshooting Voyage 2 Green II

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

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line, stems pinched and dark at the base, around days 10-21 after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani, both triggered by soggy, poorly drained starting mix
Overwatering combined with low airflow around seedling trays

What to Do

1.Ditch any affected trays — damping off doesn't stop spreading once it starts
2.Water from the bottom only, and let the top of the mix dry slightly between waterings
3.Run a small fan near your seedling setup for 30-60 minutes a day to improve airflow and dry out the surface faster

Leaves developing gray, fuzzy patches — usually on older foliage first, spreading fast in cool, humid conditions

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — a common lisianthus problem, especially under greenhouse covers or in tight spacing
Overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight

What to Do

1.Remove and bag all affected leaves and stems — don't compost them
2.Space plants to the wider end of the 12-18 inch recommendation to open up airflow
3.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall

Plant reaches day 150+ with no stem elongation — just a flat, leafy rosette sitting at soil level

Likely Causes

Vernalization gap — Voyage 2 Green II, like most lisianthus hybrids, needs several weeks around 50-60°F to break out of the rosette stage
Transplants that went straight from a warm greenhouse to warm outdoor soil with no cool transition period

What to Do

1.Start seeds indoors in February so seedlings experience natural cool fluctuations before the spring transplant window
2.If rosetting has already stalled a plant, move it somewhere with cooler nights — even 4-5 nights in the low 50s can restart elongation
3.For next season, source pre-vernalized plugs from a commercial lisianthus supplier; the plants arrive ready to bolt and you skip weeks of guesswork

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Voyage 2 Green II take to grow from seed to first bloom?▼

Expect 140–150 days from sowing to first harvest. This includes 8–10 weeks of indoor seed starting before transplanting outdoors after frost danger passes, followed by 6–8 weeks of garden establishment before the first flowers emerge. Starting seeds in late winter (January–February in most zones) targets early summer bloom.

Is Voyage 2 Green II easy to grow for beginners?▼

Lisianthus requires more attention than tomatoes or zinnias, but it's manageable for dedicated beginners. The main challenges are slow seedling growth and sensitivity to damping-off, which demand sterile seed-starting mix and careful watering. Once established in the garden with consistent moisture and good air circulation, it's fairly forgiving. Start with just a few plants to build confidence.

Can you grow Voyage 2 Green II in containers?▼

Yes, containers work well for Voyage 2. Use 5–gallon pots filled with quality potting soil (not garden soil). Container plants may require more frequent watering and weekly feeding during bloom. Place containers where they receive 4–6+ hours of direct sun daily, and provide good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Taller stems benefit from subtle staking.

When should I sow Voyage 2 Green II seeds indoors?▼

Sow 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost date. In most of the U.S., that means late January through March, depending on your zone. Count backward from your anticipated transplant date (when soil reaches 60°F after all frost risk has passed) to determine your exact sowing window. Earlier sowing in a cool greenhouse gives stronger, more mature plants.

What makes Voyage 2 Green II different from other green lisianthus varieties?▼

Voyage 2 Green II is a Group 2 hybrid bred for mid-season maturity and pale mint-green coloring with fully double, heavily ruffled blooms. This combination of color intensity, bloom form, and predictable timing distinguishes it from single or semi-double green lisianthus. It's optimized for professional cut-flower production and serious cutting gardens.

How do I prevent damping-off disease with lisianthus seedlings?▼

Use sterile seed-starting mix (never garden soil), water from below rather than overhead, and ensure adequate air circulation with a small fan. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Don't crowd seedlings. If damping-off appears (seedlings collapse at soil level), immediately reduce watering and increase ventilation. Discard affected seedlings to prevent spread.