Bottle Gentian is charming late flowering perennial, unique in structure, with unique flowers and deep blue color.
Usually grows to 1'-2' x 1-1.5' wide, somewhat sprawling habit, leathery looking leaves. Bottle-shaped flowers highly attract bees, but only bumblebees are strong enough to get into the flower. Flowers for about 5-6 weeks, with the peak in September-October.
Full sun, half shade, lighter dappled shade. In nature prefers slightly acidic soils, but can be found in calcareous soils too and is adaptable to most organic rich garden soils - medium-moist to moist soils.
This gentian likes cooler spot, so in warmer zones plant in half shade.
Native wildflower to Eastern North America, that is found in moist woods, low wooded, thickets, black soil prairies, near streams, ponds and around swamps. See the USDA distribution map.
Plants are a bit slow to establish, but are long-lived. Deer and rabbit rarely bother it.
Hardy in zones 3 to 7.
Best in half shade to shade borders, woodland or half-shade gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator or wildflower gardens, but looks very well in modern landscaping - you can see it for example in Lurie Garden in Chicago.
Can be combined with half shade perennials or with constant moisture with medium sized perennials in sun.
Recommended by Mt. Cuba Research Center and Botanical Garden (DE).
Pot size : square 3.5" x 5" deep pot
Pictures copyright : US Perennials nursery