Gentiana sino-ornata 'STARLIGHT'

Gentian is one of the most beautiful perennials where the most sought after varieties bear blue flowers. Because its blue is true blue, bluer than the ocean, darker than the summer sky, almost like indigo. The family consists of more than 400 species which often hybridize among themselves. Showy Chinese gentian was first found and described by Scottish botanist George Forrest in 1904 in West Chinese province Yunnan.

Showy Chinese gentian is an autumn flowering species with possibly the showiest flowers in the family. They are erect trumpets of dark sky blue colour with white throat and white and navy blue stripes outside. The flowers appear continuously from September until November atop short, 5-20 cm long, procumbent stems. Needle-like leaves are very similar to those on ground-covering phlox, and are evergreen in mild climates where they turn ginger-orange in winter, in zone 6 they are deciduous and the whole plant emerges again in spring. Starlight is a variety selected for a neat and compact growth.

Gentian is a slow growing, mat-forming perennial requiring zero maintenance but a great deal of planting. It requires acid, humus-rich soil that will be free draining but evenly moist. It hates drought and all-day direct sunlight in hot summers which is why it is often used as an understory of rhododendrons, Japanese (tree) peonies, highbush blueberries, and similar peat-loving plants that will cast some shade during the day. Provide some extra watering in dry seasons. Hardy to about -25°C (USDA zone 5b-6) and some protection (fir branches etc.) is recommended during deep, long-lasting frost.

Last update 16-10-2017