Gentiana (Gentianaceae)
A legendary genus of plants, naturally occurring around the northern hemisphere of the world. Gentians have enticed humans for centuries for their beauty and their medicine. The flowers come in a range of colors, but the sky blue of certain species is what they are famous for. The roots yield some of the most bitter properties known and have been used extensively to aid digestion. The extract comes up in tonics and beverages around the world including Swedish bitters and Moxie soda. Because of the wide range of the plant and the multiple species, breeding is dizzying. A real rabbit hole of crosses, hybrids and cultivars. We currently grow mostly species gentians from seed, some ornamentals selected for ease of growing and some important medicinal species. Most gentians need good, well drained, slightly acidic soil with consistent moisture. They grow well in the sun, but prefer protection from late afternoon heat. Current list below:
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
G. andewsii - Native to the northeast US. Clump forming, tubular, un-opening, blue flowers atop a 24”-36” stem. Late summer. Seems mostly pollinated by bumble bees.
G. asclepiadea - The willow gentian, so called for the narrow leaves. Clump foaming, 24”-36” tall with a cluster of pink or blue trumpets atop. Late summer.
G. dahurica ‘Nikita’ - Basal rosette of lance shaped leaves. Procumbent, stems to 16” with clusters of deep blue flowers. Mid to late summer.
G. lutea - Yellow gentian. The traditional European alpine plant. Basal rosette of broad fleshy leaves. Flower stalk 24”-36”, midsummer yellow blooms. Unique among gentians. Slow to flower.
G semtifida - Low growing, with a slightly sprawling habit to 18”. Colbalt blue flowers in late summer. Fairly easy.
G. sino ornata ‘Kingfisher’ - Low, spreading habit with narrow leaves. Intense blue flowers late summer into the fall. One of the best!
G. tibetica - Not one of the most attractive, but an important Asian medicinal Low rosette of fleshy leaves with a flower stalk to 24”. Greenish-white, un-opening flowers.
Sold mostly in quarts. ‘Kingfisher’ in 4” pots. Andrewsii available as 2 year old seedlings.
A legendary genus of plants, naturally occurring around the northern hemisphere of the world. Gentians have enticed humans for centuries for their beauty and their medicine. The flowers come in a range of colors, but the sky blue of certain species is what they are famous for. The roots yield some of the most bitter properties known and have been used extensively to aid digestion. The extract comes up in tonics and beverages around the world including Swedish bitters and Moxie soda. Because of the wide range of the plant and the multiple species, breeding is dizzying. A real rabbit hole of crosses, hybrids and cultivars. We currently grow mostly species gentians from seed, some ornamentals selected for ease of growing and some important medicinal species. Most gentians need good, well drained, slightly acidic soil with consistent moisture. They grow well in the sun, but prefer protection from late afternoon heat. Current list below:
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
G. andewsii - Native to the northeast US. Clump forming, tubular, un-opening, blue flowers atop a 24”-36” stem. Late summer. Seems mostly pollinated by bumble bees.
G. asclepiadea - The willow gentian, so called for the narrow leaves. Clump foaming, 24”-36” tall with a cluster of pink or blue trumpets atop. Late summer.
G. dahurica ‘Nikita’ - Basal rosette of lance shaped leaves. Procumbent, stems to 16” with clusters of deep blue flowers. Mid to late summer.
G. lutea - Yellow gentian. The traditional European alpine plant. Basal rosette of broad fleshy leaves. Flower stalk 24”-36”, midsummer yellow blooms. Unique among gentians. Slow to flower.
G semtifida - Low growing, with a slightly sprawling habit to 18”. Colbalt blue flowers in late summer. Fairly easy.
G. sino ornata ‘Kingfisher’ - Low, spreading habit with narrow leaves. Intense blue flowers late summer into the fall. One of the best!
G. tibetica - Not one of the most attractive, but an important Asian medicinal Low rosette of fleshy leaves with a flower stalk to 24”. Greenish-white, un-opening flowers.
Sold mostly in quarts. ‘Kingfisher’ in 4” pots. Andrewsii available as 2 year old seedlings.
A legendary genus of plants, naturally occurring around the northern hemisphere of the world. Gentians have enticed humans for centuries for their beauty and their medicine. The flowers come in a range of colors, but the sky blue of certain species is what they are famous for. The roots yield some of the most bitter properties known and have been used extensively to aid digestion. The extract comes up in tonics and beverages around the world including Swedish bitters and Moxie soda. Because of the wide range of the plant and the multiple species, breeding is dizzying. A real rabbit hole of crosses, hybrids and cultivars. We currently grow mostly species gentians from seed, some ornamentals selected for ease of growing and some important medicinal species. Most gentians need good, well drained, slightly acidic soil with consistent moisture. They grow well in the sun, but prefer protection from late afternoon heat. Current list below:
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
G. andewsii - Native to the northeast US. Clump forming, tubular, un-opening, blue flowers atop a 24”-36” stem. Late summer. Seems mostly pollinated by bumble bees.
G. asclepiadea - The willow gentian, so called for the narrow leaves. Clump foaming, 24”-36” tall with a cluster of pink or blue trumpets atop. Late summer.
G. dahurica ‘Nikita’ - Basal rosette of lance shaped leaves. Procumbent, stems to 16” with clusters of deep blue flowers. Mid to late summer.
G. lutea - Yellow gentian. The traditional European alpine plant. Basal rosette of broad fleshy leaves. Flower stalk 24”-36”, midsummer yellow blooms. Unique among gentians. Slow to flower.
G semtifida - Low growing, with a slightly sprawling habit to 18”. Colbalt blue flowers in late summer. Fairly easy.
G. sino ornata ‘Kingfisher’ - Low, spreading habit with narrow leaves. Intense blue flowers late summer into the fall. One of the best!
G. tibetica - Not one of the most attractive, but an important Asian medicinal Low rosette of fleshy leaves with a flower stalk to 24”. Greenish-white, un-opening flowers.
Sold mostly in quarts. ‘Kingfisher’ in 4” pots. Andrewsii available as 2 year old seedlings.