Gentiana autumnalis

Common Names

Pine Barren Gentian, Autumn Gentian

Summary

Gentiana autumnalis, commonly called pine barren gentian, is a perennial native to the southeastern United States, found in open, moist to dry sandy pine habitats such as Longleaf Pine savannas, pine flatwoods, sandhills, and pine barrens from New Jersey to Georgia. It grows as slender stems, typically 6 inches to 2 feet tall, with narrow opposite leaves 2–3 inches long that twist like a propeller. Bright blue, outward-opening, tubular flowers with five lobes are usually 1–3 per plant and about 2 inches long, with a whitish-green speckled throat; bloom occurs from late September to December. Fire-adapted and dependent on periodic burns, habitat management increases plant density and flowering. Cultivation favors moist, acidic sandy soils and can be grown in bog-like settings, often at margins of bogs or ponds or in containers; propagation is by fresh seed sown in late fall to early winter or by division, with minimal disturbance aiding root development; mycorrhizal associations may aid growth, and hardiness generally falls within zones 6a–8b; flowering occurs on slender stems with typically 1–3 bright blue flowers, and seeds are wind-dispersed from ellipsoid capsules.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-24 inches

Spread

12-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

No single ideal drainage, tolerates a range from moist to very xeric soils, well-drained soil (slightly acidic to neutral)

Soil pH

pH below 6.0

Bloom Color

Blue

Bloom Time

Fall (sometimes into Winter)

Foliage Color

Dark-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Fall and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts flies