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Bransford, W.D. Mrs.

Gentiana andrewsii Griseb.

Closed bottle gentian, Closed gentian, Bottle gentian

Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)

Synonyms: Gentiana andrewsii var. andrewsii, Dasystephana andrewsii

USDA Symbol: gean

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Closed bottle gentian is a 1-2 ft. plant with narrow, purplish leaves whorled or opposite below clusters of purple flowers which stay closed. Dark blue, bottle-like, cylindrical flowers, nearly closed at tips, in tight clusters atop stem and sometimes in axils of upper leaves. Robust plants may have two whorls of flowers. When in full bloom, the flower looks like a bud about to open.

This is one of our most common perennial gentians and the easiest to grow in a moist wildflower garden. Other bottle gentians include a very similar species, Blind Gentian (G. clausa), in which the bands are not longer than the petals. Narrow-leaved Gentian (G. linearis), which occurs chiefly in the north and in the mountains as far south as West Virginia, has very narrow leaves and open flowers. The flowers of Soapwort Gentian (G. saponaria) are light blue and slightly open at the tip; this midwestern species has soapy juice. Stiff Gentian (Gentianella quinquefolia), an annual, has light blue or lilac, open flowers with bristle-pointed, fringeless lobes and a 4-sided stem; it occurs from southwestern Maine south to Florida and from southern Ontario to Missouri, Louisiana, and southern Tennessee.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: 1 to 2 feet tall
Leaf Color: Green
Flower Size: 1.5 inches long
Fruit Color: Tan

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Can bloom until frost.

Distribution

USA: CO , CT , DE , IL , IN , IA , KY , MD , MA , MI , MN , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NY , ND , OH , PA , RI , SD , VT , VA , WV , WI
Canada: MB , ON , QC , SK
Native Distribution: W. Que. to Man., s. to NJ, OH, KY, n. AR & n.c. CO
Native Habitat: Moist, shaded sites; meadows; damp prairies; shores
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium , High
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8) , Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Humus-rich, slightly acidic, sandy loam. Tolerant of lime.
Conditions Comments: Plant in soil that is not too acidic and maintain moisture throughout the growing season, without letting soil get soggy.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Unusual flowers add a subtle touch of color
Use Wildlife: Bees and bumblebees attracted
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Root Division
Description: Propagate by seed or divisions of the root crown. Divide root crowns in fall or early spring and plant 1 ft. apart. Germination of seed requires stratification and exposure to light. Scatter seeds on growing medium – do not scratch in – and cover. Said to be difficult to establish.
Seed Collection: Collect in Oct. and Nov.
Seed Treatment: Stratify 3 months at 40 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Young plants may need protection from herbivores. Plant tends to lean at maturity, so plant among sturdier plants for support.
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Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday April 21. What a beautiful place. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I was wondering how I could find out what are the native wildflowers of Northern Indiana. I live in Warsaw, IN. It is 3 hours north of Indianapolis between South Bend and Fort Wayne. I have a lovely home in the country with all the wildlife and all the space that I need. I just planted 10 flowering trees and I have flower beds of the flowers I enjoy. The soil is very sandy but would like to know the wildflowers that are indigenous to Northern Indiana. Thanks for any assistance that you can provide.
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Enchanter's Garden - Hinton, WV

Bibliography

Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, S.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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