Gentiana asclepiadea
The brilliant blue of these flowers sings out from the borders contrasting with the normal buffs and russets of early autumn. The willow-like leaves give this plant the common name of willow gentian. It is fully hardy and thrives in the Cherry Garden and Stone Garden in full sun and partial shade and on the sunny slopes of the Rock Gully.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Willow gentian
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Height & spread
- 50-100cm (20-39in) tall by 10-50cm (4-20in) wide
- Form
- Clump-forming herbaceous perennial
- Soil
- Moist but well-drained, moderately fertile, acid or neutral soil
- Aspect
- Part shade
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles
Gentiana
Gentiana can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, mostly with showy, trumpet or salver-shaped flowers. They are elegant plants, famous for their vivid blue flowers, though with over 400 species spread around temperate regions of the world, there are yellow, white and pink-flowered plants too.
Gentiana asclepiadea
G. asclepiadea is a herbaceous perennial to 1m, with arching stems bearing lanceolate leaves, and trumpet-shaped deep blue flowers, 4-5cm (2in) in length in the upper leaf axils in late summer and early autumn.
Cultivation
- Grow in light, humus-rich soil that is reliably moist but well-drained.
- Avoid chalky soils.
- It needs shade from hot sun but in areas with cool, damp summers it can tolerate sun.
- Slugs, aphids, stem rots and gentian rust may be a problem.
Propagation
- Sow seed in summer or early autumn as soon as it is ripe, in a cold frame.
- Divide in early spring.
AGM
The RHS Rock Garden Trials Subcommittee awarded Gentiana asclepiadea an Award of Garden Merit in 1993 and described it as
'Herbaceous perennial to 1m, with arching stems bearing lanceolate leaves. Trumpet-shaped deep blue flowers 4-5cm long are borne in the upper leaf axils.'