Gentians and sunshine

[Tristan_He]

OK here's a question. I have at last managed to get several species of gentian (three acaulis clones, verna, septemfida and three of Keith Lever's autumn flowering varieties) growing reliably in my new northwest facing rockery. When I say growing reliably, I mean planted in the spring, and they have made it to the autumn having (mostly) increased in size and flowered. Which, given my previous incompetence with the group, is an achievement of sorts.

Anyway, one thing I really should have thought about is that quite a number of gentians seem to need sunshine for their flowers to open. I'd like to try some more species and cultivars, but most of the remaining space is in rather shady spots*. Are there any species or cultivars that will flower well (including opening the flowers!) in this setting? I've noticed that some of Keith Lever's cultivars such as 'Silken Skies' and 'Silken Night' seem to keep their flowers open even in shade, whereas another (Shot Silk I think) closes its flowers. Any advice appreciated.

Also, has anyone out there tried G. oschtenica? Any advice on growing it outdoors?

* By shade I mean that created by the house or nearby walls, not overhanging trees or shrubs.

Tristan

[Natalia]

Hi Tristan,

To start a gentiana acaulis - I have it grows in a sunny spot. Slanted slit small alpine garden.



Just planted gentianf clusii and varieties gentiana acaulis.

Gentiana verna in my garden there.
  Gentiana septemfida and her family is very unpretentious - grow well and bloom like in full sun or in partial shade.


Gentiana septemfida in the garden of my friend Elena Kozhina (it is, and the author of the photo), where gentians grow in full sun alpine garden.



Unfortunately I did not realize that in the autumn gentian do you have in mind, but if this sort of Gentiana sino-ornata- it grows well in peat or forest acidic soil in a transparent shade. Photo from my garden.



Finally, on gentiana oschtenica - it grows well on a place is fully illuminated by the sun in spring and summer transparent shadow.Problems with wintering under snow she has  not. Here so it is growing in my garden.

[Maggi Young]

Well, I do  think that EVERY gentian is beautiful - but that photo of Gentiana oschtenica is especially lovely, Natalia. Thank you!

[Tristan_He]

Thank you Natalia for your advice. My G. oschtenica seed has arrived now so I will hopefully be able to experiment. I'll try sowing a little in situ as I've heard it really does not like transplanting.

Still a few autumn species in flower, Silken Skies in particular has been a real star. Looks a bit like the rather fabulous G. depressa.

Tristan

[astragalus]

How about sharing a picture???

[Tristan_He]

Will see what I can do. Not sure if there are any flowers left, and it's what is technically known as 'well ventilated' here at the moment (70mph gusts) so am staying indoors! [also it's dark but then that's what flash is for!]

[Natalia]

Thank you, Maggie

Tristan, my G. oschtenica seed grown more than 6 years ago. Due to some problems in my old garden, the seedlings grown for a long time in a large pot. That they did not like. Then one plant were planted in the alpine garden. The remaining planted in small pots, and I gave to friends.

The early years of the plants grow very slowly, right in the garden they will be difficult to grow.
This gentian tolerates transplant. I've already shared my plant into several parts .

[Natalia]

Tristan,Maggie, my G. oschtenica in this year

[Maggi Young]

Oh, Natalia, how beautiful!

[Tristan_He]

Yes, stunning Natalia.

Good germination from my gentians this year but no sign of any G. oschtenica yet sadly. 

Does anyone know if vine weevils like to eat gentians? One of my G. acaulis has suddenly started to die back in a manner that suggests its roots are being eaten.

[Roma]

I haven't noticed vine weevil damage with gentians but have had trouble with leatherjackets in one area.

[Gabriela]

Beautiful oschtenica Natalia!

Tristan,
My seeds are germinating this year, tiny still, hopefully I will be able to take a good picture soon. It is possible to have them germinating
in the second spring so keep your pot.
Another easy Gentiana that does very well in part shade is G. cachemirica. I had it for quite few years in a shady spot (also over crowded by other plants) and it flowered well; not too many seeds though so it is planted now in a more open space.

[Tim Ingram]

Natalia's G. oschtenica is just superlative, a great encouragement to try more gentians  . We've always found G. verna germinates well sown in the autumn but this last winter has been so mild I think winter stratification of the seed may have been insufficient - we've had poor germination with many autumn sown seed. G. acaulis has been a disappointment until this year, growing well but never flowering freely, but the form G. kochiana from Aberconwy has really flowered well this spring/early summer - full sun, gritty but quite loamy heavy soil. G. septemfida, G. paradoxa, and the very good hybrids between these two have always been very reliable in sunny places.

[Natalia]

Thank you, colleagues!

Gentianа acaulis - in this year. 41 flower ...