Plant DetailShow Menu

Gentianella quinquefolia is often confused with:
Gentiana saponaria Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Coreopsis major leaves and flowers
Gentiana saponaria Form
Phlox maculata Form in native habitat

Agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
jen-shee-an-EL-luh kwin-kway-FOH-lee-uh
Description

Stiff Gentian is a native biennial wildflower in the gentian family found in roadsides, wet fields, bogs and wet woods in the mountains of NC and the eastern USA. The plant grows 1/2 to 2 feet tall and is tolerant of various conditions. It reproduces by seeds. There are 2 variations- one found in the east and the other found west of Ohio. It usually grows vegetatively the first year and blooms the second year although it sometimes acts as an annual.

It prefers full sun to light shade in moist conditions and somewhat barren clay or rocky soil. The plant prefers cool weather summers and does better in mountainous areas. The many flowers appear in late summer to fall in upright clusters of lavender blooms. This plant doesn't transplant well. 

The NC Native Plant Society does not recommend this plant for home landscapes. Other sites state it will do well in a wildflower setting if given the right conditions.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. occidentalis
    Found west of OH
  • var. quinquefolia
    An Eastern species
var. occidentalis, var. quinquefolia
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fall flowers#NC native#summer flowers#mountains#wind dispersed seeds#native wildflower#water dispersed seeds#partial shade tolerant#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. occidentalis
    Found west of OH
  • var. quinquefolia
    An Eastern species
var. occidentalis, var. quinquefolia
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fall flowers#NC native#summer flowers#mountains#wind dispersed seeds#native wildflower#water dispersed seeds#partial shade tolerant#wildflower
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Gentianella
    Species:
    quinquefolia
    Family:
    Gentianaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in herbal medicine and to make an alcoholic drink
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada to Eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    USA: AR , CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: ON
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Capsule divides into 2 parts to release the numerous tiny seeds. These seeds are distributed by wind and water.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Violet to white, funnel-shaped flowers in multiple tight clusters that are held stiffly upright. Produces dozens of tubular, .5-1 in. flowers with five triangular bristly-tipped lobes from August through October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The lance to somewhat heart-shaped leaves are 1/2 to 2 inches long and half as wide and become smaller as they ascend the stem. They are stalkless (sessile) or slightly clasping with smooth hairless surfaces and sharply pointed tips. Color is yellow-green to green to a slight purple tint. Each leaf has 3-7 prominent parallel veins. Each pair of opposite leaves are rotated 90 degrees off from the pair below.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stems are light green to reddish-purple, 4-angular, and slightly winged.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees