Lisianthus: The Stunner Without the Scent (For Now!)
Whether you call it Lisianthus or Eustoma, it has long been a florist’s favourite. This holds true across the UK and around the world. Is it any wonder, given its elegant and diverse flowers, wide range of colours, and impressive vase life? Whether you’re using them in beautiful gift bouquets or grand wedding arrangements, Lisianthus adds a touch of sophistication to any floral design. Despite its many qualities, it’s true that Lisianthus has been missing one key element: fragrance. However, if you’ve been longing for that extra aspect, your wait might soon be over.
The Journey Towards Scented Lisianthus
Exciting, ground breaking research has unveiled the very real potential for fragrant Lisianthus (also known as Eustoma) in the future. A recently published study sheds light on how scientists from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) in Japan identified 36 scent compounds in Lisianthus flowers, previously considered scentless.
What might these fragrances be like? ‘Herbal’ and ‘sweet spicy’ were the main scents detected, leading to breeding efforts now underway. While previous research and reports identified how gene transformation could likely unlock fragrance within the flower, this recent pioneering and comprehensive analysis of Lisianthus scent components lays a solid foundation for breeding fragrant varieties. We can be confident that these scientific breeding wizards will create the most favoured fragrance possible.
As breeding efforts progress, we may soon see (and smell) a new dimension to the already stunning Lisianthus, offering florists like you and your colleagues around the world an even more attractive product for your designs.
What potential is there for Fragrant Lisianthus?
The introduction of fragrant Lisianthus could be a game-changer. We know how amazing they are already, but just imagine bouquets and arrangements that not only look stunning but also offer a delightful scent.
Fragrance adds an extra sensory dimension, potentially making Lisianthus even more appealing for weddings, special events, or just to enjoy at home. Of all our senses, smell is most closely linked to memory and emotion. Scents can trigger vivid memories more effectively than any other sense. Imagine how fragrant Lisianthus could create lasting memories for your clients. Could you see how this might be an advantage within your business? We all know that clients are often willing to pay a bit more for scented flowers.
Lisianthus offers such a wide range of varieties that, just like roses, not all Lisianthus varieties will be fragrant in the future. This could be good news for those who suffer from allergies to fragrant flowers. Do you currently promote them for people with hay fever or pollen allergies? While they’re not perfect in this regard, they are low pollen producers, and their large, sticky pollen grain structure is less likely to become airborne and cause allergic reactions.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Fragrant Lisianthus
As we consider the potential of fragrant Lisianthus, it’s clear that this development could bring exciting, and in our opinion, only positive changes to you as florists and the floral industry as a whole. While it’s too early to predict exact outcomes, we can anticipate some interesting possibilities.
From a market perspective, the introduction of scented varieties could influence Lisianthus’s position in the cut flower hierarchy. Who doesn’t love a scented flower? Therefore, it might compete more directly with traditionally fragrant flowers and gain more attention, enabling it to capture a greater share of the cut flower market.
However, it’s important to remember that developing new fragrant varieties is a long process. Breeding a completely new variety of Lisianthus takes an average of five years. So, it could be several years before we see (and smell) the results of current research in our stock and your orders and designs. In the meantime, we can look forward to the continued beauty and versatility, not to mention the constant new varieties and ever-expanding range of our current Lisianthus varieties.
We’ll always aim to bring you updates on our evolving floral industry. Staying informed about all the developments within the flower world is not only interesting but keeps you ahead of the game and at the cutting edge.
What do you think about the future of Lisianthus? This research certainly opens up new possibilities. Are you excited about them and the prospect of a fragrant future? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with the beloved Eustoma.
In Summary
The potential introduction of fragrant Lisianthus represents an exciting development for florists and the floral industry. With the promise of adding a delightful scent to an already beautiful flower that’s a florist’s favourite, this innovation could increase their popularity, enhance market value, and attract new customers.
While the journey to bring these fragrant varieties to market may take time, the future looks bright for Lisianthus. Whilst we know we’ll all have to be patient, why not share this information with your clients? It’s a great opportunity to showcase your expertise and demonstrate how you stay well-informed about industry developments, positioning yourself at the forefront of floral trends and knowledge.
FAQs
Will all Lisianthus varieties become fragrant?
Whilst it’s hard to know exactly, we think it’s most likely that not all varieties will be fragrant. Lisianthus are now such a diverse collection. Due to their wide range of differences, each has specific breeding requirements, which is why it’s unlikely that all varieties will be scented.
When will fragrant Lisianthus be available?
The development of fragrant Lisianthus is ongoing. It typically takes about 5 years to breed a new variety, so it may be several years before they’re commercially available. Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated on any progress and let you know as soon as these exciting new varieties are ready for market.
How might fragrant Lisianthus impact the flower world?
The introduction of fragrant Lisianthus could see their popularity soar even higher. Fragrant flowers are always more popular, with the lack of scent being a common complaint. So a fragrant Lisianthus could really stir things up, having them gain more attention and a greater market share.
Why is fragrance so popular in flowers?
Fragrance is highly popular in flowers for many reasons. They can naturally perfume a space, which improves the atmosphere and makes us happier, and are generally seen as more luxurious and premium. What’s more, scents can evoke powerful memories and emotions, and whilst people won’t have any current connections with the scent of Lisianthus, how great is it that new memories can be formed with their future scent? Ultimately, fragrant flowers enhance our overall sensory experience, so it’s no surprise they’re so widely appreciated.
Are and will fragrant Lisianthus be suitable for people with allergies?
Lisianthus are generally suitable for people with allergies as they produce minimal pollen, which is not easily airborne. This makes them less likely to trigger allergic reactions compared to many other flowers and this is unlikely to change in any future fragrant varieties. However, there may be some people who are highly sensitive to fragrant Lisianthus, just as they might be to other scented flowers.
Will fragrant Lisianthus require special care?
Fragrant Lisianthus are not expected to require significantly different care from current varieties. The breeding process aims to enhance scent while maintaining all the flowers existing qualities.
Are there any downsides to developing fragrant Lisianthus?
We can’t imagine any significant downside to fragrant Lisianthus. Breeders and growers are meticulous in their work and won’t release new varieties unless they meet their exacting standards. It’s true that some fragrant roses don’t have the vase life of other non-scented varieties, but it’s far too soon to know if this may be a consideration for Lisianthus. We’re confident that the development process will only enhance the flower’s appeal.
Reference List:
Floral Daily. (2nd February 2023). Clarification of scent components of lisianthus flowers. https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9627642/clarification-of-scent-components-of-lisianthus-flowers/
Flores Shop. (26th March 2021). What flowers can be given to allergy sufferers? https://flores-shop.com.ua/en/2021/03/26/what-flowers-can-be-given-to-allergy-sufferers/
Florists’ Review. (n.d.). Scent components of lisianthus flowers. https://floristsreview.com/scent-components-of-lisianthus-flowers/
Flower Style. (n.d.). Lisianthus. https://www.flower.style/flowers-we-love/lisianthus
J-STAGE. (n.d.). Clarification of scent components of lisianthus flowers. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/hortj/advpub/0/advpub_QH-112/_article
Lisianthus kwekerij (nursery) Sunrise Holland. (2nd February 2022). [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/tNV2fiauKBo
NARO. (2nd February 2023). Clarification of scent components of lisianthus flowers. https://www.naro.go.jp/english/topics/laboratory/vegetea/162684.html
PubMed. (6th November 2020). Increased substrate availability reveals the potential of scentless lisianthus flowers in producing fragrant benzenoid-phenylpropanoids. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33161590/
ResearchGate. (n.d.). Modifying lisianthus traits by genetic engineering. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268401918_Modifying_lisianthus_traits_by_genetic_engineering
Scientific American. (n.d.). Smells ring bells: How smell triggers memories and emotions. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/smells-ring-bells-how-smell-triggers-memories-and-emotions/
Westflor. (n.d.). Eustoma | Lisianthus Cut Flowers – Complete Guide. https://westflor.co.uk/flower-library/eustoma-lisianthus/
Wiley Online Library. (2020, December 27). Increased substrate availability reveals the potential of scentless lisianthus flowers in producing fragrant benzenoid-phenylpropanoids. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ppl.13264
