Bottle Gentian
Gentiana andrewsii
Courtesy Sally and Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Summary
Closed Bottle Gentian is an unusual, showy wildflower with narrow leaves below clusters of blue-purple flowers which remain closed–even in full bloom, each flower looks like a bud about to open. Slow-growing but long-lived, it requires little care once established in its preferred location of rich soil and full or partial sun.
More Details
FAMILY
Gentianaceae (Gentian)
BLOOM TIME
August-October
FLOWER
Blue-purple
MATURE SIZE
1-3 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Part Shade to shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Moist
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
Bottle gentian is pollinated by large, strong bees such as bumble bees, who are robust enough to pry open the closed flowers to reach the nectar within.