Gentianella quinquefolia, Stiff Gentian

 

A bit like Bottle Gentian, but a more demure stature and shorter lived. After bloom, it will reproduce via self-seeding. Typically I will avoid selling biennials because they are a better value when grown by seed, but Stiff Gentian is not the easiest by seed

Like all Gentian, it is a late bloomer providing purple blooms into October on stiff, red-green stems. Stiff Gentian appears to do well in moister soils with full to part sun. With that in mind, it may be a good candidate for the conventional flower garden as well as wetland edges, rain gardens, or should you have one -a wet prairie. Some say it works just as well on bluffs, so if you're feeling adventurous, a well-draining location might be tried.

Blooms: blue-purple, September into October

Height: 1 to 3 feet

Conditions: sun to pt sun, moist to medium soils