|
|
Rock Garden Plants A to Z:
BACK
Gentiana- (Gentian)
Gentiana septemfida |
For most people this is the Queen of the alpines - to attempt to
create a truly impressive rock garden without at least one Gentian would
be unthinkable. The blue trumpets can provide color from May to October if
you choose a selection of spring- summer- and autumn-flowering types.
Unfortunately most Gentians are rather temperamental and cannot be regarded
as 'grow anwhere' plants. You should always check the likes and dislikes
of a particular species before you buy it, and even then it can be flower-shy
for no particular reason. Lime is a problem - spring flowering types may
either tolerate or require it, but the autumn-flowering Gentians cannot stand
it. All demand free-draining but not impoverished soil. Add peat and some
grit before planting firmly in spring.
VARIETIES:
The easiest one to grow is the summer-flowering
G.
septemfida which gives a good display of 1-2 in. long purple-blue trumpets
in any sunny well-drained spot. The basic details are height 9 in., spread
1 ft., flowering period July-August. The popular
G.acaulis (trumpet Gentian) is a smaller plant (3 in. high)and blooms early
May-June, but its flowers are much more eye-catching- 3 in. long almost stemless
trumpets standing upright above the glossy oval leaves. Unfortunately it
is unpredictable. In some situations it will not bloom and no one knows why.
If your plant is flower-shy simply move it to another spot in autumn.
G.
verna is another spring-flowering Gentian -height 3 in., spread 6 in.,
flowering period May-June. Its starry flowers are bright blue. An attractive
evergreen which is unfortunately short-lived. The most popular autumn-flowering
Gentian is
G.
sino-ornata, height 6 in., spread 1 ft., flowering period September-October.
The 2 in. long trumpets are bright blue with pale green stripes. For many
experts the white-throated
G. farreri
is the best of
all.
SITE
& SOIL:
Well-drained soil is essential - thrives in sun or light shade.
PROPAGATION:
Divide clumps in spring (autumn-flowering Gentians) or midsummer
(spring-flowering Gentians). Sow seeds for G. verna
|
|
Water Garden & Serene Pond keeping is a journey: "We hope you
enjoy yours"!
Home |
Store
Policy |
Products
| Shipping Policy
| Site Map
|
Contact
Us
A
Pond Place.com Hackensack, New Jersey
[201]880-0621
louisa@apondplace.com
|
|
