Gentiana acaulis

Garden Plant Information

 Gentiana acaulis flower Gentiana acaulis flower detail

Gentiana acaulis flower profile  Gentiana acaulis habit  
 

Name

Gentiana acaulis (also called Gentiana kochiana and stemless gentian)

 

Genus  

Gentiana

Species

acaulis

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Evergreen, mat-forming, herbaceous perennial grown for its trumpet-shaped blue flowers which are borne in spring and summer - the above plant was flowering on the 11th of January at the Oxford University Botanic Gardens. Gentiana acaulis is found in mountainous areas of Europe and is ideal for rockeries, gravel gardens or the front of borders. This Gentian prefers an acid soil.

 

It attracts bumblebees and butterflies.

Season of interest

Blue flowers in spring and summer.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - low-growing and mat-forming. H: 2cm S: up to 30cm

  2. Stem - the flower has either a very short or no stem

  3. Leaves - mid green, elliptic and from 2 to 3.5cm long, opposite in a basal rosette, forming clumps.

  4. Flowers - up to 6cm long, trumpet-shaped, blue with white stamens, borne in spring and summer. The inside of the flower has raised olive-grey spots that look a bit like drops of wax.

 

Cultural details

Aspect

Prefers full sun.

Soil

Acid to neutral, moist but well-drained.

Hardiness

Fully hardy.

Maintenance

Needs dividing every few years as the plant will eventually stop producing flowers at its centre. No pruning needed. Susceptible to root rot.

Propagation

 

By division or off-shoots in spring or by fresh seed sown in autumn.