Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Herbaceous Perennial

Gentiana pneumonanthe

marsh gentian

Gentiana pneumoanthe is a perennial with erect stems to around 40cm tall, narrow, needle-like leaves and large, intense blue, tubular flowers in terminal clusters with petals streaked whitish-grey/green on the outside and spotted grey inside

Other common names

Calathian violet
harvest bells
see morelung flower
marsh gentian

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–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: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Gentiana can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, mostly with showy, trumpet or salver-shaped flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe to C Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moist but well-drained, acid or neutral, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.