Hybrid

Voyage 2 Light Apricot

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 Light Apricot in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Voyage 2 Light Apricot · Zones 8–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained loam, pH 6.0-7.0

WaterRegular, consistent moisture without waterlogging

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPale apricot

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 an appealing shade of pale apricot 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 Light Apricot 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 Light Apricot 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

Cut Voyage 2 Light Apricot blooms in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Remove lower foliage and place stems immediately in room-temperature water. Store cut flowers in a cool location (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight and ethylene-producing fruits. Change water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at an angle. Vase life typically ranges from 7-14 days. To extend longevity, use floral preservative in the water, refrigerate at night (50-55°F), or air-dry upright blooms for dried arrangements that last for months.

History & Origin

Voyage 2 Light Apricot 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 exceptionally lush, ornamental flowers
+Pale apricot color is unique and appeals to high-end floral markets
+Pelleted seeds simplify sowing and improve germination consistency
+140-150 days allows spring planting for early summer harvest
+Easy difficulty rating makes it accessible for novice growers

Considerations

-Lisianthus requires consistent moisture; drought stress causes bud drop
-Botrytis fungus thrives in humid conditions, requiring excellent air circulation
-Slow establishment means extended time to marketable blooms
-Group 2 timing limits planting flexibility outside spring window

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially French marigolds, Tagetes patula) are the most practical choice alongside Voyage 2 Light Apricot. Their scent confuses aphids and thrips — both pests that go after Eustoma's tender stems — and their shallow roots don't compete with lisianthus's own modest root system. Sweet Alyssum is worth tucking in at the border; it pulls in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that clean up soft-bodied insects before populations build. Cosmos and Zinnia make solid row companions in a cutting garden, and in our zone 7 Georgia garden they hit their stride on the same warm-season schedule, so you're not wasting bed space waiting on one crop while another finishes.

Black Walnut is the one to avoid entirely — its roots release juglone into the soil, and Eustoma has little tolerance for it; you'll see stunted, yellowing plants with no obvious cause until you think about what's growing 40 feet away. Sunflowers are a quieter problem: they're allelopathic in their own right and act as an aphid magnet that can easily overflow onto neighboring stems. Give lisianthus its own clean bed.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps for pest control

Nasturtiums

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

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial predatory insects while providing color contrast

Catmint

Deters ants, aphids, and flea beetles while attracting bees

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides structural support without competing heavily

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and doesn't compete for nutrients

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants and inhibits growth

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Heavy feeders that compete aggressively for nutrients and water

Troubleshooting Voyage 2 Light Apricot

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

Seedlings collapsing at soil level, stems pinched or rotted at the base, typically 10–21 days after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — triggered by overwatering or poor drainage in seed trays
Overly dense sowing that keeps humidity too high around emerging stems

What to Do

1.Water only from the bottom by setting trays in a shallow tray of water for 20–30 minutes, then let them drain fully
2.Thin seedlings to at least 1 inch apart as soon as the first true leaves appear — Eustoma seedlings are slow and crowding kills them fast
3.If damping off is already spreading, remove affected cells entirely and treat remaining seedlings with a dilute copper fungicide drench

Flower buds forming but failing to open, or blooms browning at the edges before fully unfurling, usually after a stretch of overcast wet weather

Likely Causes

Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — thrives in humid, low-airflow conditions, especially common during Georgia's spring rainy stretches
Spacing too tight at 12 inches or less, trapping moisture around the canopy

What to Do

1.Space plants at the wider end of the range — 18 inches — and stake stems upright so the canopy stays open
2.Remove and bag any affected buds or petals immediately; Botrytis spreads fast through debris left on the soil
3.Avoid overhead irrigation; switch to drip or water at the base early in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Voyage 2 Light Apricot lisianthus flowers last in a vase?▼

Fresh-cut Voyage 2 blooms typically last 7-14 days in a vase with proper care. Keep water fresh and cool, change it every 2-3 days, and re-cut stem ends at a 45-degree angle. Using floral preservative and refrigerating stems overnight can extend their longevity even further.

Is Voyage 2 Light Apricot a good lisianthus variety for beginners?▼

Yes, Voyage 2 Light Apricot is excellent for beginners. It's classified as an easy-to-grow hybrid lisianthus with reliable, fully double blooms. Group 2 timing makes it ideal for early spring through summer harvest, and the pelleted seeds make handling simpler.

When should I start seeds for Voyage 2 Light Apricot lisianthus?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date to achieve flowering by spring and early summer. Lisianthus prefers cool germination conditions (65-70°F) and consistent moisture. This timing aligns with Group 2's early spring to summer harvest window.

Can you grow Voyage 2 Light Apricot lisianthus in containers?▼

Yes, lisianthus grows well in containers. Plant in well-drained potting mix and ensure pots have drainage holes. Provide full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours daily) and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Container-grown plants are excellent for cut flower production.

What does the Voyage 2 Light Apricot bloom color look like?▼

Voyage 2 produces 3-inch fully double blooms in a pale apricot shade—a soft, warm peachy-pink tone. The flowers are exceptionally lush with abundant layering and ruffling, creating a romantic, garden-rose-like appearance ideal for arrangements.

How far apart should I space Voyage 2 Light Apricot plants?▼

Space lisianthus plants 12-18 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation and minimize disease. Closer spacing may increase humidity around foliage, while proper spacing promotes healthy growth and easier harvest of high-quality cut stems.