Closed Bottle Gentian
Gentiana andrewsii
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © illinoisbotanizer (iNaturalist #319886487)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Gentianaceae
- Genus:
- Gentiana
- Species:
- Gentiana andrewsii
- USDA Symbol:
- GEAN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, violet
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Hummingbirds:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bumblebees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers habitats like wet meadows and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Requires light for germination; seeds should be surface-sown and not covered. Cold stratification significantly improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seal the seeds in a bag or container with an equal amount of either perlite or vermiculite. Add just enough water to barely saturate the mixture and store in a refrigerator or cold garage (42 degrees F) for at least 3 months. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).
Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The plant prefers marshy or at least moist ground; meadows and wet prairies; shores, thickets and ditches; river banks, floodplains, swamp forests. It has white or blue flowers and grows 14-30 inches tall.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow at 20°C for 6 weeks, then place @ 4°C for 6 weeks, then slowly raise temperature to 10°C for 6 weeks. If there is no germination, repeat the cycle. Requires light or the seed is very fine. Surface sow and expose to light. * avoid pricking out individually, transplant seedlings in clumps