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 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:
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 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:
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 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:
Our selections
G. Dahurica - An Asian species that exhibits the true blue, tubular whorls of flowers in late summer. The foliage is long lancelot leaves that emerge, grass like in the spring. The plant has a tendency to sprawl around, some neighboring support helps prop them up.
G. Lutea - The European species and the one used most commonly in the medicinal trade. Very unlike other gentians, it grows tall, putting up whorls of yellow flowers, segmented up the stalk. Not common in the trade.
G. Semptifida - Considered one of the easier (as gentians go) ornamental species. Originating in the Caucasus mountains, it has the famous cobalt to sky blue flowers blooming in late summer into the fall. Low growing, with a slightly sprawling habit.
G. Tibetica - Tibetan gentian is used mainly for its medicinal properties instead of an ornamental like many of its European, blue flowering cousins. The shiny, glabrous leaves have an almost tropical look and stay nice all summer. The greenish-white flowers that form atop the plant mid-summer with the flower never really opening. It makes a unique addition to the perennial garden. Probably the most forgiving gentian to grow, it does best in the sun, to part shade with rich, well drained soils.