Voyage 2 Lavender
Eustoma grandiflorum
Photo: י.ש. - שיחה 11:56, 22 ביוני 2008 (IDT) · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Pale lavender 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.
Harvest
140-150d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
8–10
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Voyage 2 Lavender in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Voyage 2 Lavender · Zones 8–10
Growing Details
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
Pale lavender 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 Lavender 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 Lavender 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
For fresh Voyage 2 Lavender cut flowers, place stems in cool water immediately after harvest and store in a cool room (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Refrigerate at 35-40°F for extended vase life of 7-10 days. Preserve by air-drying bunches upside down in a well-ventilated, dark space for 2-3 weeks to retain color and fragrance. Alternatively, press petals between parchment paper under weights for 1-2 weeks for botanical crafts, or freeze petals in ice cubes with water for decorative purposes.
History & Origin
Voyage 2 Lavender is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Nebraska south to Texas.
Advantages
- +Fully double blooms with abundant ruffling create stunning, luxurious floral arrangements.
- +Pale lavender color is elegant and versatile for wedding and event designs.
- +140-150 day timeline allows profitable early spring through summer harvest windows.
- +Easy difficulty rating makes it accessible for beginner and experienced growers.
- +Pelleted seeds improve sowing accuracy and reduce germination failure rates significantly.
Considerations
- -Lisianthus demands consistently moist but well-draining soil or root rot develops quickly.
- -High humidity requirements make this variety prone to powdery mildew and botrytis.
- -Slow growth period requires extended greenhouse space and careful temperature management throughout.
Companion Plants
Rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano are the strongest companions for Voyage 2 Lavender, and the reason is straightforward: these Mediterranean herbs share nearly identical water and drainage preferences, so you won't be fighting conflicting irrigation needs in the same bed. Marigolds pull their weight by deterring aphids and whiteflies — pests that will go straight for lisianthus buds — through scent and by drawing in predatory wasps. Russian sage, planted at the border, won't shade out plants that need 4–6 hours of direct sun, and its silver-blue foliage cuts well alongside the lavender blooms if you're putting together arrangements.
Mint is the one to keep in a buried container, full stop — its underground runners will crowd lisianthus roots within a single season. Impatiens and hosta belong in a different bed entirely: both are high-water, shade-preferring plants that need conditions opposite to what lisianthus requires. Putting them together means the lisianthus stays wet and half-shaded, which is exactly how you end up back at the damping-off problem described above.
Plant Together
Rosemary
Similar growing conditions, attracts beneficial insects, and natural pest deterrent
Thyme
Shares Mediterranean growing preferences and helps repel cabbage worms and other pests
Sage
Compatible drought-tolerant herb that deters harmful insects like carrot flies
Marigolds
Natural nematode control and attracts beneficial predatory insects
Echinacea
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while sharing similar sun and drainage needs
Oregano
Repels aphids and spider mites while thriving in similar dry, sunny conditions
Sedum
Drought-tolerant succulent that attracts beneficial insects and complements lavender's texture
Russian Sage
Similar water and soil requirements, attracts pollinators, and provides complementary silvery foliage
Keep Apart
Mint
Aggressive spreader that competes for nutrients and space, can overwhelm lavender
Impatiens
Requires frequent watering and rich, moist soil that can cause lavender root rot
Hosta
Prefers shade and consistently moist soil, opposite of lavender's Mediterranean needs
Troubleshooting Voyage 2 Lavender
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapsing at the soil line, stem pinched and brown, within the first 3 weeks after germination
Likely Causes
- Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani) — fungal rot triggered by overwatering and poor airflow around seedling trays
- Sowing too deep — lisianthus seed is tiny and needs light to germinate; burying it invites rot before the seedling ever stands up
What to Do
- 1.Surface-sow onto a sterile, fine-textured starting mix and press gently — don't cover the seed with media
- 2.Water from the bottom (set the tray in a shallow dish) and let the surface dry slightly between waterings
- 3.Run a small fan on low nearby to keep air moving; discard any affected seedlings immediately and don't reuse that cell
Leaves developing silvery streaking or stippling, buds failing to open or opening distorted, midsummer
Likely Causes
- Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) — they hide inside the tight bud bracts and are easy to miss until damage is obvious
- Tospoviruses (like Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus) transmitted by those same thrips — once the plant is infected, there's no fixing it
What to Do
- 1.Tap a few buds over white paper to check for thrips before symptoms worsen — tiny, fast-moving slivers are the giveaway
- 2.Remove and bag any heavily distorted buds or plants showing mosaic-pattern leaf discoloration; don't compost them
- 3.Apply spinosad-based insecticide (such as Entrust SC) at 5–7 day intervals if thrips are confirmed; rotate to a pyrethrin product on the third application to slow resistance
Plants sitting nearly still for 6–8 weeks after transplant with little to no new growth, leaves staying small and pale green
Likely Causes
- Lisianthus's naturally slow juvenile phase — Voyage 2 takes 140–150 days from sow to harvest, and the first 8 weeks are mostly root development
- Soil temperature below 60°F slowing root establishment — lisianthus stalls in cold soil even if air temps feel fine
What to Do
- 1.Lay black plastic mulch over the bed 1–2 weeks before transplanting to bring soil temp up to at least 60–65°F
- 2.Side-dress with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 at about 1 lb per 100 sq ft) at the 6-week mark to nudge things along without pushing soft foliage
- 3.Don't pull them — lisianthus is a notoriously slow starter and will kick into gear once roots are settled; premature replanting just restarts the clock
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Voyage 2 Lavender cut flowers last in a vase?▼
When should I plant Voyage 2 Lavender seeds?▼
Is Voyage 2 Lavender good for beginner gardeners?▼
Can I grow Voyage 2 Lavender in containers?▼
What makes Voyage 2 Lavender different from other lisianthus?▼
How often should I water Voyage 2 Lavender?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.