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Gentianella spp.

dwarf gentians

Gentianaceae

Temperate and alpine regions worldwide

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–7

Overview

Gentianella spp. is a genus of about 250 small annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the gentian family, Gentianaceae, found in cool temperate and alpine grasslands worldwide, with centers in the Andes, New Zealand, and Eurasia. The upright stems carry paired, narrow leaves and tubular to bell-shaped flowers in blue, violet, purple, white, or pink, many fringed with a ring of slender hairs in the throat. Most flower in late summer and autumn, opening flat only in sunshine. Plants stay low, from 2 to 16 inches (5-40 cm) tall. Many species are short-lived and depend on cool, moist, open ground. The brief life of many species and a need for cool, well-drained sites are the main limitations in cultivation.

Native Range

Native to cool temperate and alpine regions worldwide, including the Andes, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, and North America. Plants grow in mountain grassland, meadows, heath, and open, gritty slopes.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rock gardens, alpine troughs, gravel gardens, and the front of cool borders. The smaller species are also massed in short turf, where they self-seed into grassland plantings.

How to Identify

A low, upright herb carries paired, narrow leaves, often above a basal rosette, and four- or five-lobed tubular flowers that open only in sun. The flower throat usually shows a fringe of slender hairs. Flowers are blue to purple, sometimes white or pink, and appear from late summer. The fringed throat and sun-triggered opening separate it from larger garden gentians.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 1'4"

Width/Spread2" - 8"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer Fall

Tubular flowers open from mid-summer into autumn, July to September, spreading flat in sunshine and closing in dull weather. Bees and other insects work the fringed throats over several weeks before the plants set seed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue, violet, purple, white, or pink

Foliage Description

green, sometimes purple-tinged

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to flowering

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Gentianella spp. grows in full sun in cool, moist but well-drained, gritty or sandy soil. Most species are hardy in alpine conditions to about USDA zone 3 (-40°F / -40°C) but resent heat, drought, and heavy wet ground. Many are annual or biennial and renew from self-sown seed rather than persisting. Little feeding is needed, as rich soil shortens their life. A cool root run and open exposure suit the genus.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing spent stems. Seed heads are left to ripen and self-sow for the next generation, then cleared. Annual and biennial species die after seeding.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic