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Native Plant Database

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Gentiana saponaria (Harvestbells)
Sherman, Doug

Gentiana saponaria L.

Harvestbells, Soapwort gentian

Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)

Synonyms: Gentiana saponaria var, saponaria, Dasystephana saponaria

USDA Symbol: GESA

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Harvestbells or soapwort gentian, a perennial, grows 8-20 in. tall, having light-green, opposite, lance-shade leaves on slender stems. The blue-violet flowers are bottle-shaped, opening only partly, and occur in terminal or axillary clusters.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: S. NY to WI, s. to FL & LA
Native Habitat: Moist depressions; margins of woodland creeks & ponds
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Fertile, sandy loam.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by division or seed. Scatter seeds on a flat when ripe and cover with a fine mulch. Leaves seedings in the flat until the end of the second growing season. Divide root crowns in fall or early spring and plant 1 ft. apart.
Seed Collection: Cut stems below capsule and tap or shake seeds from it. Store in a sealed, refrigerated container up to four years.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Gentiana saponaria in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Gentiana saponaria in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Gentiana saponaria

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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