Hardiness zones
Sunset All
USDA All

Landscape Use: Mixed spring, summer, and fall flower borders, accent, containers

Form & Character: Erect, stiff, formal, fragile, delicate.

Growth Habit: Moderate depending on hybrid selection from 4" to 2' tall, usually narrow with few lateral branches.

Foliage/Texture: Glaucous ovate to oblong simple leaves that are sessile and clasp about glaucous stems. clasp, are sessile; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Terminal large blossoms to as much as 3" across, single and double, many colors ranging from white to deep violet/purple with dark colored centers; fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Blooms in through out the summer.

Temperature: Prefers warm weather, but is stressed during the highest heat of a Phoenix summer.

Light: Full sun to partial shade, avoid hot western exposures.

Soil: Well drained and organic, salt sensitive.  

Watering: Regular

Pruning: None is needed, remove spent flower heads to keep plant visually tidy.

Propagation: Set out as transplants in Phoenix in April and May for summer bedding plant color.  Otherwise propagated by seed after purchase of improved F1 hybrid selections such as the 'Echo' Series and the 'Heidi' series.

Disease and pests: Root rot in warm poorly drained soils, lisianthus necrosis virus.

Additional comments: Texas bluebell is one of three species of Eustoma.  It has received much attention by horticultural breeders to produce several improved F1 hydrids for landscape garden use as colorful bedding plants. The large flowers of the improved F1 hybrids can be as much as 3" wide.