Growing Difficult Gentian – Gentiana

I have a phobia or total lack of ability when it comes to growing Gentians. Because I expect to fail I have done so many many times and now I avoid Gentians like I wanted to avoid Gentain Violet bactericide as a child.

Gentian Facts

• The Gentians are evocative of the mountains (and that should tell me something about there cultivation).
• The majority of species flower in the deep, intense shade of blue for which Gentains are renown. ( New Zealand Gentians are white and there is a yellow Peruvian variety).
• Larger Gentians have 5 petals in a trumpet shape whilst smaller varieties have 5 petals that open like a star.
• In general European varieties flower in spring whilst the ‘easier’ Asian varieties flower in Autumn.
• This is a large genus with over 400 species and varieties.

Growing Tips

• Gentians are fiercely lime hating and require moist but fast draining soil.
• Gentians are thought to be difficult to grow outside their wild habitat.
• Good clumps of root should be planted out between October and February.
• Once established the less the plants are meddled with the better
• Top species to grow in England include Gentain Acaulis, Gentian verna, the spring Gentian and Gentian septemfida the  Crested Gentian.
• Gentiana sino-ornata is not only one of the easiest and most reliable, but also one of the loveliest with spectacular (BBC)

See tips for growing Gentians and I resolve to try again in my Rockery