Gentiana (Gentian) is a large genus comprising about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Gentianaceae. It is a cosmopolitan genus, grown in alpine habitats of temperate regions of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Gentiana is commonly known as Gentian, consists of annual, biennial and perennial plants. Some are evergree, others are not. The genus name is a tribute to Gentius (ruled 181-168 BC), the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean kingdom. It was thought that he had found out that Gentiana has tonic properties.
Gentiana calycosa is a herbaceous perennial plant known by its common name Rainier pleated gentian. it is an attractive mountain wildflower, suitable for alpine gardens. It is native to the mid-elevation mountains of the western United States and Canada, from the Sierra Nevada of California to the Canadian Cascades. It is a hardy plant, has thick green leaves on the thin red stems from which the flowers are borne. The deep blue to purple, funnel-shaped flowers has five petals, 3-5 cm wide.
Gentiana sino-ornata (autumn gentian), 8 x 40 cm, is a semi-evergreen perennial which grows on neutral to acid soil. It has dark green leaves and bears dark blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in autumn, which are striped with darker blue and have green-yellow stripes on the outside.
Gentiana lutea (Great Yellow Gentian, Yellow Gentian, Bitter Root, Bitterwort, Centiyane and Genciana)is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. It is a clump-forming, 1-2 m tall herbaceous perennial plant, growing in grassy alpine and sub-alpine pastures, usually on calcerous soils. Its leaves are broad, lanceolate to elliptic 10-30cm long and 4-12 cm broad. It bears whorls of yellow flowers, with corolla separated nearly to the base into 5-7 narrow petals. Extracts of gentian root can be found in the American soft drink Moxie, and are attributed to its unique flavor.
Gentian verna (Spring gentian, Star gentian) is one of the smallest species in genus Gentiana. It is a mat-forming evergreen perennial, growing to 4 x 10 cm. It is one of the most widespread gentians, found on sunny alpine meadows and moorland throughout Eurasia from Ireland to Russia. It thrives on dry meadows with chalky soil. In late spring to early summer, rich blue flowers (sometimes purplish-red, seldom white), about 2.5 cm in diameter, with white centres, are borne above rosettes of small, grey-green leaves.
Gentiana is suitable for rock gardens and bog gardens, grows well in sun, in moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Propagation is by ripe seed or division in spring. Pests and diseases are aphids, slugs, snails and rust.
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Bernd Haynold
