Notes About :Gentiana

All varieties listed here are fairly easy to grow. They like an average garden soil that drains, like it is required by most rock garden plants. They don't need and actually don't like heavy watering (except G. pneumonante) and are drought tolerant once established. Gentiana acaulis is besides the Edelweiss the most classic Swiss Alpine flower and shouldn't be missing in any rock garden (really). You can encounter them easily (unlike Edelweiss) on hikes up in the Alps. As far as growing them, it has been our experience that they prefer to be planted in the garden rather than been in pots. They are not fond of potting media and need some plain "dirt". So far we haven't lost a single plant in the garden; in the pots, a different story. So if you do want to grow them in larger pots and planters, make sure to add 1/4 to 1/2 garden soil.