Gentiana verna

[hadacekf]

I showed a photo of Gentiana verna in my lawn last year. It was a self-sown seedling. I have not seen the plant in the meadow in the past summer. I was very surprised that this plant blooms again this year.

Gentiana verna last year with one flower
Gentiana verna this year

[Philippe]

Beautiful gentiana Franz!
I am still trying to get it right. That means not grow it to flowering size, but only keep it alive for more than a few years
I don't understand what am I doing wrong with it. I put so much care and attention when planting it, but untill now, all the efforts are never or very rarely really rewarded. In addition, I must say I have a good climate, which is a huge advantage. But...
My last try in date is to grow it together in open soil with androsace alpina and ranunculus alpestris, so that the roots can meet in the ground. Let's see what it will be this way this time!
As I see, yours are doing so well with grasses around.
What makes me wonder even more then: a gardener I know grows gentiana verna to impressive size and flowering, totally alone, without any plants near to it. I suspect he has a really good soil mix then. Instead of begging for plants, I will beg for a little soil next time by him  

[hadacekf]

Philippe,
I cultivate G.verna normal in a trough. It blooms only once so beautiful. Why the G. verna is growing so well in the meadow. I do not know.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Cracking Gentians Franz !!! 

[Philippe]

I would love mines to flower just so well, even if only one time!
Lovely troughs also.

[Lesley Cox]

Your trough plants are truly magnificent Franz and I think the meadow seedling believes it is really at home in the Alps.

[Tim Ingram]

Joe Elliott grew Gentiana verna by the thousands on his Broadwell nursery and writes about it in the AGS Bulletin Vol. 54, p. 117 (1986). He had a trough on the nursery completely full of the gentian (but a ready supply of new plants to keep replanting). It sounds as though part of the trick was having good rich compost (even manure) at the base of the trough for the deep roots of the gentians to access, presumably like the nutrient rich condition in many meadows, especially at times of snowmelt. It would be wonderful to establish in an 'alpine meadow' in the garden - I wonder how long lived the plants are in natural situations? For us they have never grown for more than a few years.

[hadacekf]

Thank you all together for the kind comments.

[Lesley Cox]

Thay tend to be short-lived here too. I don't think I've had more than 3 flowerings from any plants but they always set good seed. Funny though, the white form has been relatively permanent. I still have in reasonably good condition my first white from about 5 or 6 years ago. It too is a good seeder.

I find the seed, if sown by May (mid autumn here) will invariably germinate in Aug/Sept (early spring) but if sown later, it waits another full year to germinate.

[hadacekf]

I cultivate G. verna as a biennial plant. They bloom in the second year at best.
It is not difficult because G.verna makes plenty of seeds and germinates well.

[zvone]

Hi Franz!

Beautiful Gentiana verna!

Thank's!

Best Regards! zvone

[Paul T]

Stunning colour, Franz.  Here's hoping that your meadow volunteer starts a permanent colony for you. 

[zvone]

Hi!

Gentiana verna on a Mountain Velebit- Croatia:



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Best Regards!  zvone

[hadacekf]

Superb picture of a beautiful plant.
Zvone, is this plant perhaps Gentiana verna ssp. tergestina ?

[zvone]

Superb picture of a beautiful plant.
Zvone, is this plant perhaps Gentiana verna ssp. tergestina ?

Hi Hadacek!

I think that it isn't he.

Is only Gentiana verna.



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Best regards!  zvone