Gentians

Autumn flowering gentians

Words: Phil Clayton, Features Editor of The Garden

My own experience with autumn flowering gentians is mostly limited to growing the herbaceous kinds, namely the few selections of willow gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) a really lovely herbaceous perennial best suited to moist, cool conditions in moist but well drained shade.

Plants form small clumps with wiry arching stems that develop as the season progresses. The stems are well-furnished with lance shaped leaves and then in late summer the typically gentian-like flowers appear from the axils of the upper leaves, perhaps 10-15 flowers per stem.

I favour blue flowered selections – they are quite unlike any other plant in flower- I suppose a bit like a refined Campanula but with rather more grace than any Campanula I know. G . asclepiadea ‘Pink Swallow’ with rose-pink flowers is also nice but white flowered G. asclepiadea var. alba I’m less keen on – it always looks a bit feeble to me with pale foliage - but it makes a contrast to the others.

I’ve admired them in gardens up and down the UK. They appear to really thrive in Scotland and in the West Country, but I have found they struggle in the drier east. If they go short of water early in the season (mine hated this year’s dry spring) they never seem to recover and growth ends up stunted.

Grow them in woodland conditions if you have them, in a cool spot under a tree or in the less of a north wall if not, and improve the soil with garden compost before planting. They will stand some lime in the soil. Avoid disturbing them-they take a few seasons to settle down well. Team them with small ferns, primulas, bulbs and small perennials such as hepaticas.