Gentiana puberulenta aka Downy Gentian

Gentiana puberulenta, or downy gentian, belongs to the gentian family. It is a perennial, which means it lives for years. It comes from south-central Canada and parts of the United States. These US areas lie in the north-central and east-central regions. Its range includes Manitoba and Ontario, then reaches south into several states. It grows in prairies and other open, grassy places. It comes from temperate regions, not Britain or Ireland.

Downy gentian grows about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres] tall. Its small size suits planted beds and sunny woodland edges. It flowers from August to September, adding interest late in the season. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bumblebees and butterflies carry pollen between the blooms. The supplied accounts give no details about its leaf shape or fruit. They do not describe its stems either.

Choose a site with good drainage and sun or light shade. Plants For A Future lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. It lists mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils too. Use its advice on soil moisture with some care. One species note calls for a fairly dry site that drains well. Another favours sun, with moist soil below ground in summer. The summary also says this plant prefers moist soil. These notes agree on good drainage, but not one clear watering level. The source lists USDA zones 5–9 and a UK zone of 6. That UK number does not establish an RHS hardiness rating.

Choose a place where you can leave the roots alone. The plant copes poorly when you disturb its roots. This can make it hard to move. You can also grow new plants from seed. Sow fresh seed when ripe in a cold frame with light. You can also sow in late winter or early spring. A cold spell helps seeds sprout. Stored seed soon loses its ability to grow. Older seed can sprout slowly and at uneven times. The notes on raising plants call for five to six weeks of cold treatment. First, they call for a brief spell that lets seeds take up water.

Plants For A Future records no known edible uses. It reports no known hazards, but that does not prove safety. The source records a traditional claim that the roots treat snakebite. This claim does not prove that the treatment works. Most other notes on medical uses concern another gentian species. Those notes do not apply to this plant. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases specific to this species. The source does not flag this plant as weedy.