Gall-of-the-earth Gentianella quinquefolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jen-shee-an-EL-luh kwin-kway-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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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:
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- var. occidentalis
Found west of OH - var. quinquefolia
An Eastern species
- var. occidentalis
- var. occidentalis, var. quinquefolia
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. occidentalis
Found west of OH - var. quinquefolia
An Eastern species
- var. occidentalis
- var. occidentalis, var. quinquefolia
- Tags:
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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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
