Gentiana septemfida

very pretty,

That's nice!

That is a beauty. I have G. acaulis and I have just discovered it prefers neutral to limey soils. Is septemfida a summer/autumn flowering one, which prefers acid soil. There are 55 different named gentiana in the Edrom Nursery catalogue. I'm amazed.

This is for mid to late summer,on any decent soil in full sun.

Thank you.

I was in a garden centre on Thursday and they were selling off a lot of alpine plants half price. I got two of these as I do like the gentians. I also got a white one G. Saxona. It is not at all like the other gentians I have. It is from New Zealand. It has cup-shaped white flowers with grey-purple veining on the petals. It is apparently short lived and while it may self sow it is best to be kept going from seed according to John Husbands article on the AGS site.

hi Sheila

I have G.saxosa just about ready to flower.
It will need to be fairly dry in winter to be hardy.

Thank you for the advice. I have some clear bell shaped cloches which OH bought for something else but they were not suitable. They are big enough not to touch the plant and have vents on the top. Could I cover it with that or would a piece of glass suspended over it do, or should I pot it up and put it inside. I take it the other gentians will be quite hardy. I found a second G.Saxosa which had overwintered in a mixed pot. It is not nearly ready to flower and would probably benefit from a move to an alpine mix. You were right when you said alpines could be addictive. I've posted a blog about my new alpine bed.

I would think that keeping the roots and crown dry is the important thing.Cold wouldn't matter but good air circulation is the thing.

Phank you Pcw. I'll use that then and keep an eye on it just in case it maybe needs to be removed if the weather is good.