Bottle Gentian produces deep blue, bottle-shaped blooms that never fully open, giving the plant its common name.
Pollination is mainly done by bumblebees, which force their way inside the closed flowers—a process called “buzz pollination.”
Tough foliage and bitter compounds make it unattractive to deer and rabbits.
Bottle Gentian’s unique structure and late bloom make it a prized plant for pollinator gardens and wetland habitats.
Bottle Gentian produces deep blue, bottle-shaped blooms that never fully open, giving the plant its common name.
Pollination is mainly done by bumblebees, which force their way inside the closed flowers—a process called “buzz pollination.”
Tough foliage and bitter compounds make it unattractive to deer and rabbits.
Bottle Gentian’s unique structure and late bloom make it a prized plant for pollinator gardens and wetland habitats.
Bloom: late summer to early fall
Habitats: fens; moist black soil prairies; openings in floodplain forests; swamp areas near bodies of water; thickets
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: moist
Plant type (height): forb (1 to 2 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: rich soil
