Gentiana andrewsii 'Bottle Gentian'

Gentiana andrewsii, also known as closed bottle gentian, is a perennial herb in the Gentian family. It is native to eastern North America and can be found growing in moist, shaded woodlands and along streams. The plant has a rosette of basal leaves and a tall stem that can reach up to 2 feet in height. The stem is topped with a terminal cluster of blue, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in late summer or early fall. The plant is valued for its showy flowers and is often used in gardens as an ornamental.

Gentiana andrewsii prefers moist, well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. The plant prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It prefers a shaded or partly shaded location, but can also tolerate some morning sun. It can grow in full shade but the growth and flower production may be reduced. It is important to note that it does not tolerate dry or poorly-drained soils, as this can lead to root rot.

A unique attribute about Gentiana andrewsii is that its flowers do not open fully, hence the common name "closed bottle gentian". The flowers have fused petals that form a long, narrow tube, which makes it difficult for pollinators to access the nectar and pollen inside. This is thought to be an adaptation that makes the plant less attractive to generalist pollinators, and instead relies on specific pollinators such as bumblebees which have long tongues to access the nectar and pollen.

Photo attributions:

Photo 1: Hugowolf at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 2: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 3: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons