Gentiana clausa
Meadow Bottle Gentian
DESCRIPTION
Meadow Bottle GentianGentiana clausa
- Plant listed for information only. Not currently being sold at Garden Centers
Dark green leaves form an upright plant through most of the summer months, creating a great background for other spring and summer flowers. Come late summer, large buds form on the stem tips and deep blue-violet flowers bloom throughout September. Great massed to create cover for many critters.
BENEFITS
Unique, deep blue flowers in late summer and fallPetals never open so the flower looks like a bud
Bumblebees are strong enough to push past the closed petals
Foliage and roots are bitter-tasting, herbivores leave it alone
Slow growing but long lived perennial
Once established, needs little care
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Moist woods from Quebec south to Tennessee and North Carolina.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Interesting Facts
Rain gardens are a useful way for homeowners as well as businesses to reduce runoff. Water is captured by a rain garden's appropriate native plants giving it a chance to slowly filter into the ground, reducing erosion and waterway pollution.
GROWING TIPS
Prefers well-drained soils and part shade to full sun with slightly acidic to alkaline soils.