Lisianthus Grandiflorum Piccolo II Hot Lips

Lisianthus Grandiflorum Piccolo II Hot Lips Seeds

(F1 Lisianthus — Group 2 Single-Flower Standard, Botrytis Resistant)

Piccolo is the standard for single-flowered Lisianthus. Thanks to the smaller cup size and hard flower petals, problems with Botrytis in transportation are greatly relieved. Piccolo is ideal for the Spring season or for year-round production with artificial light. It is today’s market standard in single-flowered lisianthus, offering sturdy stems, long vase life, the best Botrytis resistance, delicate flower size, and a wide cooler range.

Piccolo occupies a unique and essential position in the lisianthus product range precisely because it offers something none of the double or multi-layered series can deliver: the refined, open, cup-shaped single flower that is closest to the wild Eustoma species in form. While double-flowered varieties like Mariachi, Arena, and Corelli Sugoi produce rose- or peony-like blooms with layered petals, Piccolo’s single flowers open fully to reveal the characteristic beautiful center of the lisianthus flower — the prominent reproductive structures surrounded by broad, smooth petals that create a clean, architectural, modern aesthetic in arrangements.

The Piccolo II Hot Lips variety offers a distinctive and striking color effect within the single-flower format. “Hot Lips” as a variety name typically indicates a strong color contrast — a white or light-colored flower with intense pink-red coloring concentrated at the lip or margin of the petals — creating a bicolor effect of considerable visual impact within the compact single-cup form.

The hard petal structure of Piccolo that provides superior Botrytis resistance is a critical commercial advantage, particularly relevant in warm and humid conditions. Botrytis (grey mold) is the most damaging pathogen for lisianthus during transportation and storage — soft petals bruise, trap moisture, and become vulnerable.

As a Group 2 variety, Piccolo II Hot Lips flowers in the early main season — approximately two weeks before Group 3 varieties when sown at the same time. This makes it an excellent companion for succession planting programs alongside Group 3 series.

Variety Details

• Variety: Piccolo 2 Hot Lips
• Series: Piccolo
• Breeder: Sakata Ornamentals
• Species: Eustoma grandiflorum
• Common names: Lisianthus, Prairie Gentian, Texas Bluebell
• Family: Gentianaceae
• Flower form: Single-flowered — compact cup-shaped open bloom
• Flower color: Hot Lips — white/light base with intense pink-red petal margin/lip coloring
• Flower diameter: 5–6 cm (compact cup)
• Lisianthus group: Group 2 (early main season)
• Height: 75–85 cm
• Germination: 10–15 days at 20–22°C with light
• Botrytis resistance: Best in class — hard petal structure

Key Features

• Market standard in single-flowered lisianthus — from Sakata Ornamentals.
• Single cup-shaped open bloom — elegant, architectural, modern floral aesthetic.
• Best Botrytis resistance in the lisianthus category — hard petals, small cup size.
• Group 2 early season — flowers before Group 3 varieties for succession programs.
• Strong sturdy stems 75–85 cm — reliable cut flower performance.
• Outstanding vase life — firm petal structure supports longevity.
• Ideal for summer production and year-round growing under artificial light.
• Wide color range across the Piccolo series — Hot Lips bicolor effect.
• Pelleted seeds for easier handling and sowing.

Plant Information

• Habit: Upright, well-branched, sturdy
• Flower form: Single cup-shaped open bloom
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, high in organic matter, pH 6.5–6.8
• 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 6.5–6.8. Press pellets lightly onto the surface or cover with fine vermiculite dusting.Water gently until pellet material has broken down.
• Maintain 100% humidity. Keep consistently moist — pellets must not dry out.
• Germination takes 10–15 days.

Growing Tips

• Piccolo II Hot Lips shares the same fundamental growing requirements as all professional lisianthus varieties.
• Maintain 20–22°C consistently — temperatures above 25°C trigger rosetting. Inconsistent moisture and low light are secondary risk factors.
• Transplant to final positions 12–13 weeks after sowing, spacing 10–15 cm in well-drained, organic-rich medium at pH 6.5–6.8.
• Apply a biological fungicide at planting. Transplant at the correct stage: 4 true leaves (2 nodes).
• Piccolo is specifically noted as ideal for Spring production and year-round cultivation under artificial light — the hard petal structure and superior Botrytis resistance make it significantly more practical for warm-season production where other lisianthus varieties with softer petals would be vulnerable.
• Under short-day conditions, extend day length to 16 hours with supplemental lighting to prevent bud blasting. Maintain night temperatures above 13°C when lighting.
• For cut flower harvest, cut when one or more single flowers on the stem are open and fully colored. The open single blooms of
• Piccolo are at their most striking when freshly cut and fully open — the clean, broad petals and visible center create maximum visual impact. Condition in clean water with floral preservative at 5–8°C.
• In Gulf conditions, Piccolo II Hot Lips is particularly valuable for its Botrytis resistance in the warm, humid Gulf environment Sow August, transplant January–February and expect flowering March–April.

Piccolo vs Double-Flowered Lisianthus — Key Distinction

• Piccolo is the only single-flowered series in this lisianthus collection. The single-flower form delivers a completely different aesthetic to the double and multi-layered series: where Mariachi, Arena, Corelli Sugoi, and Croma resemble roses, peonies, and camellias with densely layered petals, Piccolo’s open single blooms are architectural, minimal, and elegant — showing the full beauty of each individual petal and the flower’s center.
• Both forms have their place in professional floristry.
• Piccolo is preferred for modern, clean-line arrangements, summer production, year-round programs under lights, and any application where maximum Botrytis resistance and transport durability are priorities.

Gulf Planting Season

• Best sowing time in the Gulf: August (indoors, protected environment)
  Transplanting: 12–13 weeks after sowing — January–February
  Expected flowering: March–April (Group II — approximately 2 weeks earlier than Group 3 varieties sown at the same time)
  Note: Best Botrytis resistance makes Piccolo particularly suitable for Gulf warm-humid conditions.
  Ideal for year-round production under supplemental lighting.

Cut Flower Harvesting Guide

• Harvest stage: When one or more single flowers on the stem are open and fully colored
• Conditioning: Re-cut stems; place in clean water with floral preservative at 5–8°C for 2–4 hours
• Vase life: 14–21 days — hard petals support exceptional longevity
• Note: Single flowers show maximum visual impact when freshly cut and fully open

Garden and Floral Uses

• Professional cut flower production — protected indoor/greenhouse growing
• Modern and minimalist floral arrangements — single-cup bloom form
• Summer production programs — best Botrytis resistance
• Year-round production under supplemental artificial lighting
• Mixed bouquets — provides single-flower contrast alongside double-flowered varieties
• Wedding floristry — elegant simplicity of single blooms
• Export and long-distance shipping — superior transport durability