Bottle Gentian

Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) blooms are a brilliant mauve-blue and appear just as the rest of the garden is winding down. Plant close to the front of your garden border so it doesn’t get overwhelmed with earlier bloomers. In the wild it grows in wet areas, but will also do fine in average moisture of the garden. A favorite of bumble bees.

Growing Instructions

Cold, moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at soil surface. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.

OR

Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.