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Herbaceous Perennial

Gentiana asclepiadea 'Alba'

willow gentian 'Alba'

A clump-forming perennial to 80cm high, with upright to arching stems bearing lance-shaped deep green leaves with heavily impressed veins. Upright, trumpet-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinted or speckled with green, are produced in the upper leaf axils in late summer and early autumn

Synonyms

Gentiana asclepiadea var. alba

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Gentianaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus: Gentiana can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, mostly with showy, trumpet or salver-shaped flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in reliably moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid or neutral soil. In areas with warm, dry summers these plants are best grown in light or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust and a virus

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