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 wildflower in the Gentianaceae family found in roadsides, wet fields, bogs and wet woods in the mountains of NC. It prefers full sun to light shade in moist to dry conditions, and a somewhat barren clay or rocky soil. The many flowers appear in late summer to fall in upright clusters of lavender blooms.
The NC Native Plant Society does not recommend this plant for home landscapes.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gentianella
- Species:
- quinquefolia
- Family:
- Gentianaceae
- 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
-
-
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
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
-
-
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 bristly-tipped lobes 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 leaves are up to 2.5 inches long and half as wide and become smaller as they ascend the stem. They are stalkless (sessile) with smooth hairless surfaces and sharply pointed tips. Color is yellow-green to green to a slight purple tint. Each leaf has 3 parallel veins.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- The stems are light green to reddish-purple, 4-angular, and slightly winged.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
