Gentian species and varieties: overview & characteristics

Blue gentian is a popular alpine plant, but the gentian genus has much more to offer. Discover some of the other gentian species and varieties this genus has to offer, including some Asian gentian species.

When planting gentian (Gentiana), always check the individual species’ requirements, as these can vary greatly. Once the plants are well-established, caring for gentian requires little effort. Read on to discover a selection of gentian species and varieties and learn about their individual requirements.

Gentian species and varieties: how many are there?

The Gentiana genus comprises 345 different species, plus a few cultivated hybrids which are primarily used in gardening. Gentians grow in the northern hemisphere and are found in the high mountainous regions of Europe, Asia and America. Some species produce different varieties that flower in their own colours.

The most beautiful gentian varieties and species

Not all gentian species require a rock garden or high altitudes to thrive, meaning there are some you can grow in your own garden. Discover our favourite gentian varieties and species for the garden.

Great yellow gentian

One of the more well-known gentian species is great yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea). Its roots are used to make gentian tea and gentian schnapps. Yellow gentian is a tall plant that can grow up to 130cm high. Due to its size, plant a maximum of four plants per square metre. Pick a partly shady to sunny location with moist and stony ground that is low in nitrogen. Yellow gentian is flexible in regards to soil pH. Unfortunately, it takes yellow gentian 5 to 10 years to first bloom, so you will need to be patient. That said, the beautiful yellow flowers will be worth the wait. Once established, yellow gentian is easy to care for and will only need watering during long dry periods.

Spring gentian

One of the signature blue gentians is the evergreen spring gentian (Gentiana verna), also known as Lucy of Teesdale. This small gentian species reaches a maximum size of about 10cm. In the wild, it lives in dry, lime-rich grasslands that are poor in nitrogen, but also in wet meadows in both high and low mountain ranges. Keep this in mind when choosing a location in the garden. Spring gentian will need stony, chalky soil with a low nitrogen content. You can amend soils with a low pH value using rockdust, for example. Spring gentian flowers from April to June and it sometimes flowers a second time in autumn.

Tip: spring gentian only grows in the wild in Teesdale, where its population is declining, and a few places in Ireland. Do not dig up or pick this rare wildflower.

Japanese gentian

Japanese gentian (Gentiana scabra) flowers from August until September. Its blue and violet flowers can illuminate gardens well into autumn. The plant forms dense cushions on the ground and grows between 30cm to 1m high. Japanese gentian prefers moist and sandy or loam soils. Plant it in small groups of about five plants about 20 to 30cm apart.

• Gentiana scabra ‘Zuki Rindo’: purple flowers
• Gentiana scabra ‘Blue Heart’: true blue flowers and compact growth

Tip: lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum syn. Eustoma russellianum) are part of the Gentianaceae family, but do not belong to the Gentiana genus and are popular cut flowers.

Stemless gentian

Stemless gentian (Gentiana acaulis) is also known as gentianella or large-flowered gentian and only grows to about 10cm high. Its blue flowers seem to sprout directly from the ground, which is probably how stemless gentian got its name. It prefers fresh and stony loam soil and a well-drained spot in partial shade. A rock garden provides an ideal home for this alpine plant. The trumpet-shaped flowers appear in spring and summer, between March and July.

• Gentiana acaulis ‘Alba’: gentian variety with white flowers

Tip: trumpet gentian (Gentiana clusii) bears a strong resemblance to stemless gentian, making it easy to confuse the two. However, their habitat is key to telling them apart, as trumpet gentian grows on very chalky terrain, while stemless gentian prefers acidic soil with low pH.

Crosswort gentian

Crosswort gentian (Gentiana cruciata) is named for its striking leaves that are arranged in opposite pairs (decussate). It displays brilliant blue and violet flowers in summer and late summer, between June and September. In the wild, you can find crosswort gentian at higher altitudes in pastures, thin woods or at woodland edges. It grows in an upright habit up to 40cm high and prefers semi-shaded areas with well-drained, chalky soil. Plant the perennial plants 20 to 30cm apart.

Tip: there is a species of butterfly called mountain Alcon blue (Phengaris rebeli), which only lays its eggs on the crosswort gentian. As their only source of nourishment, the butterfly’s caterpillars are dependent on this plant.

Willow gentian

One of the taller gentians, willow gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) grows to about 1m in height. Its stems are evenly covered with oppositely arranged leaves. Blue, bell-shaped flowers grow from the upper leaf axils in August and September. Willow gentian prefers neutral to acidic and moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Space the plants 20 to 30cm apart, so roughly a dozen can fit on one square metre. With its arching stems, willow gentian also looks very decorative in a pot.

• Gentiana asclepiadea ‘Alba’: white flower

Showy Chinese gentian

This low-growing perennial comes from China’s high mountainous regions and grows in clumps on the ground reaching 10 to 15cm high. Its funnel-shaped, blue flowers have white stripes on the outside and appear between September and November. For a dense carpet, plant 24 to 26 plants per square metre. Showy Chinese gentian (Gentiana sino-ornata) thrives in acidic, nutrient- and humus-rich soil that is moist but well-drained. Choose a partially shady location for this species.

• Gentiana sino-ornata ‘Bellatrix’: white and blue striped flowers

Marsh gentian

Also known as bog gentian or autumn bell flower, marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) reveals its blue flowers with white and green streaks between July and October. Generally, this clump forming perennial grows to 40cm, but can reach a height of 1m. Plant a maximum of 10 plants per square metre. This gentian species prefers a damp, low-nitrogen place in the sun. If the soil is too fertile, marsh gentian is quickly forced out by other plants, so do not apply fertiliser.

• Gentiana pneumonanthe ‘Alba’: white flower

Crested gentian

At around 20cm, crested gentian (Gentiana septemfida) is not very tall. Its flowers are bright blue with striped petals and grow in clusters at the top of the stem from July to September. Crested gentian grows in chalky or stony loam soils that are moist but well-drained. It likes a rocky grassland habitat or a rock garden. Plant it somewhere bright, or even in full sun. Keep to about eight crested gentians per square metre, maintaining a planting distance of 35cm.

• Gentiana septemfida ‘Lagodechiana’: large flowers with slightly folded back petals