Estoma Flowers: What They Are and How to Make Them Last

Estoma is the name many people use for eustoma, the flower sold in English-speaking countries as lisianthus. It looks like a soft, ruffled rose or a half-open peony, comes in white, cream, pink, lilac, deep purple and two-tone shades, and with good care it lasts 10 to 14 days in a vase, which is longer than most roses.

In Russia eustoma is one of the most requested flowers in gift bouquets, so if a relative or friend there has mentioned estoma, this is the flower they mean. Below you will find how to recognise it, what the colours say, how to keep it fresh, which flowers it pairs with and how to send an eustoma bouquet to someone in Russia.

Estoma, eustoma, lisianthus: one flower, three names

The botanical name is Eustoma grandiflorum, a plant of the gentian family that originally grew on the prairies of the southern United States and northern Mexico. Breeders in Japan turned the modest wild flower into the large double blooms you see today, and from there it spread to florists across Europe and Russia. In English the trade name lisianthus stuck; in Russian the flower is simply called eustoma, which is often written or heard as estoma.

Each stem branches into several flowers and buds, usually three to eight. That is part of its value: one stem fills space in a bouquet like a small spray, and the buds keep opening for days after you buy it. Petals are thin, almost silky, and the double varieties have layered, wavy edges that make people mistake eustoma for garden roses at first glance.

Single varieties have one row of petals and a bell shape, a little like a tulip. They look lighter and more natural; the double ones look more formal. Both last equally well, so the choice is purely about style.

What eustoma colours mean in a gift

Eustoma has no heavy traditional symbolism, which makes it a safe gift for almost any occasion. Florists usually describe it as a flower of gratitude, tenderness and appreciation. White eustoma suits weddings, a newborn, a thank-you to a teacher or a quiet note of sympathy. Soft pink and peach read as warm and affectionate, good for a mother, grandmother or a close friend's birthday.

Lilac and deep violet are the colours eustoma is best known for, and they carry a sense of elegance and respect. A bouquet of purple eustoma works for a colleague, a doctor or anyone you want to thank in a refined way without the romantic weight of red roses. Two-tone varieties, white with a purple rim, look festive and photograph beautifully.

If you are sending flowers to Russia, one etiquette point matters more than colour: count the stems. An odd number is given for happy occasions, while even numbers are for funerals. With eustoma it is easy, because a bouquet is counted by stems, not by individual flowers on each stem.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

How to care for eustoma in a vase

Eustoma rewards a few simple habits. When the bouquet arrives, fill a clean vase with cool water to about a third of its height. Cut each stem at an angle by 2 to 3 cm with a sharp knife or secateurs, ideally under running water, and remove every leaf that would sit below the waterline, because submerged leaves rot and feed bacteria that block the stems.

Change the water every two days and trim the stems by a centimetre each time. Eustoma is sensitive to dirty water: the first sign of trouble is drooping buds and petals that turn papery at the edges. A sachet of flower food helps the buds open fully and keeps colour bright. Without it, add nothing; sugar, aspirin and coins are myths that do more harm than good.

Keep the vase away from radiators, direct sun and the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit releases ethylene, which makes flowers age faster. As the lower flowers fade, pinch them off where they join the stem; the plant then sends water to the remaining buds, and you often get a second wave of flowers in the second week.

Do not worry if some buds stay green and tight at first. Eustoma is cut when two or three flowers on a stem are open. The rest open over the following days, so a bouquet that looks modest on day one is usually at its fullest on day four or five.

What to pair eustoma with in a bouquet

Because its petals are soft and its colours are muted, eustoma blends with almost everything. Classic combinations are eustoma with spray roses and eucalyptus, eustoma with chrysanthemums for a long-lasting autumn bouquet, and white eustoma with hydrangea or alstroemeria for a light, airy look.

A mono-bouquet of 15 or 25 stems of one colour is also popular and looks more expensive than its size suggests, since each stem carries several flowers. If you want a calm, elegant gift, choose one shade; for a cheerful birthday bouquet, mix pink, lilac and white. You can browse ready combinations in our bouquets catalogue.

One practical tip: eustoma lasts longer than tulips or peonies, so in a mixed bouquet it is often the last flower standing. When the companions fade, recut the eustoma stems and move them to a small vase; they will keep the room bright for several more days.

Sending an eustoma bouquet to Russia

If your family or friends live in Russia, you can order eustoma for them from abroad on our site and pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. We deliver across Russia; delivery within a city costs 500 RUB, and for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.

In large cities express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a time window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead, which is handy for birthdays across time zones. Full details are on the delivery and payment page.

Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender unless you want them to. A card with your own text is free, so you can write a few words in Russian or English. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if nobody is home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge.

To pick colours, agree the time and address or check the card text, write to a manager on WhatsApp. You can also ask for a photo of the bouquet before it goes out, so you see exactly what your loved one will receive.

Common eustoma problems and quick fixes

Drooping heads on day two or three almost always mean an air lock in the stem or dirty water. Recut the stems by 3 cm under water, wash the vase and refill it with fresh cool water; most flowers lift within a few hours. Brown, slimy stem ends are a sign to cut higher, above the soft part.

Buds that never open usually lack food and light. Add flower food and move the vase to a bright spot out of direct sun. Very small, hard green buds at the tip of the stem may not open at all; that is normal, and you can remove them to send energy to the larger ones.