American Gentian Gentiana catesbaei
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jen-shee-AN-uh KAYTS-bee-eye
- Description
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Coastal Plain Gentian is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower found in swampy areas from PA to Fl. In NC it is found in pocosins, moist longleaf pine savanna edges, edges of moist hardwood forests and bluff seepage mostly in the coastal plains. The blue flowers grow in clusters and appear in fall, often causing the stems to fall over with their weight.
This plant prefers a constantly moist, organic-rich soil and part sun to partial shade. It will grow along bogs and ponds and attracts hummingbirds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gentiana
- Species:
- catesbaei
- Family:
- Gentianaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used medicinally by Native Americans
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , DE , FL , GA , MD , NC , NJ , PA , SC , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from October to December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are stemless in clusters of 1-6 flowers. The calyx is green in color, with lobes longer than the tube. The corolla is funnel-shaped and dark to light blue in color. Some flowers are almost white. The corolla lobes part only slightly to moderately at the apex. Blooms Sept. to Nov.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves are opposite, sessile or short stems, elliptic to lanceolate, margins entire to finely toothed. 1-3 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are from 6-12 inches long, unbranched, hairy, often declining.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
