Lisianthus Grandiflorum Alissa I Blue

Lisianthus Grandiflorum Alissa I Blue Seeds

(F1 Lisianthus — Group 1 Earliest-Flowering, Blue-Violet Double)

The beautiful Alissa series from Sakata Ornamentals has large, double flowers abundantly filled with lightly fringed petals. Delicate colors and sturdy stems form an irresistible combination of strength and beauty. Alissa is available in a range of attractive colors — and within that range, Alissa 1 Blue occupies a singularly important position. Blue lisianthus is one of the most sought-after and commercially valuable colors in the global cut flower trade, for a simple reason: true blue is extraordinarily rare in nature’s cut flower palette.

Roses, peonies, dahlias, and most other commercially dominant cut flowers cannot produce a genuine blue — their blues are invariably lavender, violet, or purple. Lisianthus comes in blue and purple shades, which have long eluded rose breeders — and this rarity is precisely what makes blue lisianthus so commercially valuable. When a florist needs true blue in an arrangement, the lisianthus is often the most accessible and reliable source. The Alissa 1 Blue variety delivers this precious color in the Alissa series’ signature large, lightly fringed, abundantly filled double form — combining the rarest cut flower color with the quality that the Alissa name guarantees.

Alissa 1 Blue is classified as Group 1 — the earliest-flowering group in the professional lisianthus classification system. The full Alissa series spans from Group 1 through Group 3, with Group 1 varieties flowering before Group 2 (Champagne, Pink variants) and Group 3 (later varieties) when sown at the same time. This makes Alissa 1 Blue the ideal opening variety in a succession-planting program — the first to deliver cut stems in the production cycle, extending the harvest window and reducing the risk of a single-peak production bottleneck.

The blue color of Alissa 1 Blue is a rich, saturated blue-violet — the characteristic lisianthus blue that sits between true gentian blue and soft violet, with depth and luminosity that is particularly effective in arrangements, where it provides a cool contrast to warm pinks, corals, and whites. Ultraviolet light intensifies flower color — meaning that in Gulf conditions with abundant natural UV, the blue color of Alissa 1 Blue will be at its deepest and most saturated when plants receive full natural light during the finishing stage.

Variety Details

• Variety: Alissa 1 Blue
• Series: Alissa
• Breeder: Sakata Ornamentals
• Species: Eustoma grandiflorum
• Common names: Lisianthus, Prairie Gentian, Texas Bluebell
• Family: Gentianaceae
• Hybrid type: F1
• Flower color: Rich blue-violet — the characteristic sought-after lisianthus blue
• Flower form: Double, abundantly filled with lightly fringed petals
• Flower diameter: 6–8 cm
• Lisianthus group: Group 1 (earliest-flowering — before Groups 2 and 3)
• Height: 65–75 cm (approximately)
• Germination: 10–15 days at 20–22°C with light

Key Features

• Alissa series from Sakata — globally respected premium lisianthus breeding.
• Group 1 — the earliest-flowering classification: first to flower in any succession program.
• Rich blue-violet color — the rarest and most commercially prized color in cut flowers.
• Large double flowers abundantly filled with lightly fringed petals — sumptuous, distinctive.
• Sturdy stems ~65–75 cm — professional cut flower quality.
• Exceptional vase life — a hallmark of Sakata Alissa series.
• Ideal lead variety for succession programs alongside Group 2 and 3 lisianthus.
• Pelleted seeds for easier handling and sowing.

Plant Information

• Height: 65–75 cm (approximately)
• Habit: Upright, well-branched, sturdy
• Flower form: Double, lightly fringed petals, abundantly filled
• Flower color: Rich blue-violet
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, high in organic matter, pH 6.0–6.8
• Water: Consistent moisture — do not allow to dry out; avoid waterlogging
• Spacing: 10–15 cm for cut flower production

Seed Germination — Read Carefully

• Seed form: Fine pelleted seeds — handle carefully; do not crush pellet
• Seed depth: Surface sow or very light vermiculite dusting — light required for germination
• Germination time: 10–15 days at 20–22°C
• Germination temperature: 20–22°C — do not exceed 25°C
• Pre-cooling option: After wetting pellets, cover trays at 100% humidity and place in cold storage at 4–8°C for 4 weeks without light, then move to greenhouse to initiate germination. Pre-cooling helps prevent rosetting.
• Sow pelleted seeds into deep 288-cell trays in fine, sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix at pH 6.0–6.8.
• Press pellets lightly onto surface or cover with very fine vermiculite.
• Water gently until pellet material has fully broken down. Maintain 100% humidity by covering trays. Keep consistently moist throughout — pellets must not dry out.
• Germination takes 10–15 days.

Growing Tips

• Maintain consistent temperatures of 20–22°C throughout germination and early seedling stages. Do not exceed 25°C — high temperatures trigger rosetting. Inconsistent moisture and low light are secondary risk factors.
• Since lisianthus is a long-day response plant, extending the day gradually over 8 weeks from 15–20 hours with lighting, beginning at the 6th true leaf stage during short days will reduce flowering time.
• Maintain at least 13°C soil temperature when lighting.
• Transplant 12–13 weeks after sowing at 10–15 cm spacing in well-drained, organic-rich medium at pH 6.0–6.8.
• Apply a biological fungicide at planting.
• Transplant at the correct stage: 4 true leaves (2 nodes). Feed with calcium nitrate-based fertilizer to build strong stems.
• For maximum blue color intensity, ensure plants receive natural or supplemental UV light during the bud and finishing stage. Ultraviolet light intensifies flower color — this is especially important for blue varieties where color depth and saturation are key to commercial value.
• For cut flower harvest, cut stems when one or more flowers are open and fully colored. Condition in tepid water at 20°C then store at 4°C.
• Remove first bud to encourage lateral buds to flower together for a fuller, more commercially attractive stem.
• In Gulf conditions, August sowing with January–February transplanting produces Group 1 flowers approximately two weeks earlier than Group 2 varieties and four weeks earlier than Group 3 varieties, making Alissa 1 Blue the ideal lead variety in a multi-group succession program.

Alissa 1 Blue Group Advantage — Succession Planning

• In a complete Gulf lisianthus production program, combining Alissa 1 Blue (Group 1) with Alissa 2 Champagne (Group 2) and any Group 3 variety, all sown on the same date in August, will produce three staggered harvest flushes: Alissa 1 Blue first (March), Alissa 2 Champagne second (mid-March to early April), and Group 3 varieties third (April to May). This single-sowing, multi-group approach maximizes the production window from a single planting date without additional labor cycles.

Gulf Planting Season

• Best sowing time in the Gulf: August (indoors, protected environment)
• Transplanting: 12–13 weeks after sowing — January–February
• Expected flowering: February–March (Group 1 — earliest to flower; approximately 2 weeks before Group 2, 4 weeks before
• Group 3)
• Note: Group 1 advantage makes Alissa 1 Blue the ideal lead variety in multi-group succession programs. UV light enhances blue color intensity during outdoor finishing.

Cut Flower Harvesting Guide

• Harvest stage: When one or more flowers on the stem are open and fully colored
• Conditioning: Place in tepid water at 20°C; store at 4°C; re-cut before arranging
  Vase life: 14–21 days
• Color note: Blue color intensifies with UV light exposure — harvest on bright natural-light days for deepest, most saturated blue tone
• Tip: Remove first bud to encourage lateral buds to open together for fuller stems

Garden and Floral Uses

• Professional cut flower production — protected indoor/greenhouse growing
• Luxury mixed bouquets — blue lisianthus as the rare, indispensable focal color
• Wedding and event floristry — blue-violet offers a unique cool alternative
• Specialty and premium cut flower markets
• Succession programs as Group 1 lead variety alongside Group 2 and 3 Alissa variants
• Long-lasting luxury table and event arrangements