Bottle Gentian

Scientific name

Gentiana andrewsii

Description

Bottle Gentian is a perennial wildflower that grows to a height of about 60 cm. Bottle Gentian may also be referred to as Closed Bottle Gentian or Andrew’s Gentian. The leaves are glossy green in colour, about 10 cm long, opposite, with a whorl of leaves below the flower cluster, and have small hairs along the leaf margins. The stem of Bottle Gentian is green or purple in colour. Bottle Gentian flowers are blue or purple and resemble large buds that never open. The flowers bloom between August and September and are pollinated by Bumble bees, as they are one of the only pollinator species strong enough to open the closed flowers.

Planting conditions

Bottle Gentian grows best in cool, moist slightly acidic soils that are well-drained. It thrives in sandy or loamy soils, but will also tolerate clay type soils. Bottle Gentian does not have much drought tolerance and grows best in part shade or full sun. Bottle Gentian can be found growing naturally in meadows, wet prairies, ditches, thickets, floodplains, and along riverbanks and lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Wildflower
• Eco Zone:
  • 5a
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 60 cm
• Spread:
  • 30-50 cm