Stemless Gentian, Trumpet Gentian, Blauer Enzian (Gentiana acaulis)

Stemless Gentian, Trumpet Gentian, Blauer Enzian
Gentiana acaulis

unfortunatly got over powered by rhyzominus grass

was it hard getting this started? i have 3 little plants that are struggling. any suggestions?

I recieved a piece from my mother-in law,and have divided it 3 times ,one of the three did nothing,the main plant is 10 years old and only about 3 feet across, although it yields about 50 beautiful flowers in that small space .The other surviving plant is only 18 " across and is 3 years old,the larger and my mother-in laws are both in full sun and relativly poor soil,the smaller is in good soil and partial sun and grows incredibly slow (1-2 '') a year.I will talk to my mother-in law and get back to you with any more info I can help you with.
In the mean time be patient and happy gardening!

O.K. Handhelpers here we go my Mother-in law claims hers are multiplying like mad,her main plants are over 35 years old,some in shade (full) and some in full sun,Hmmmm!
Now this is what she say's is the secret,they are an alpine plant she remembers seeing them wild in the mountains in Germany,apparently they thrive in poor soil conditions(clay etc...)Hope this helps.After my phone call I'm off to her place to steal..I mean borrow...aquire some more.
Daryl

hi daryl - thanks for the info - i guess i better get them out of the compost i planted them in and into some clay [at least one of them!]

LOL, Hi handhelpers,I went over to mom in-laws today and divided up three more gentian to put in my garden and by golly the soil she has them certainly isn't the greatest and they're thriving ,hmmm go figure.Here is a pic from her garden in May you can see the type of soil!

wow - what blue! they also look like they get much more sun than mine do ... time to go try save 'em! thanks for all the info

Your welcome Handhelpers,Yes the blue is stunning you won't be disappointed.Good luck.

What a wonderful blue color!

Daryl, what do you think, can it grow in zone 9b?

n1i1n1a1,That's a very good question ,They are drought tolerant ,take lots of heat (37 to 40 cesius here in summer)I can't see why not.Does anyone else have some advice?

Daryl

Hi, Daryl,

Thanks for the reply. My summer temps are just about yours, (mediterranean climate), so I suppose I can start a quest for the little plant! I have thought that zone 6 (yours) is much colder.

ciao Nina

It is in the winter ,about -10 c avg but we are on the northern tip of the Sonoran desert ,so very arid summers.

Daryl

Oops, you may want to check on that (re. Vernon being "on the northern tip of the Sonoran Desert", unless you're referring to a second home, perhaps, in Arizona.... in which case, my apologies for misunderstanding). I don't think the Okanagan valley in British Columbia is really a "named" desert (or maybe semi-desert), unlike the others which have characteristic flora, etc..



This message was edited Apr 19, 2008 9:10 PM

Beautiful scenery, Daryl. Thanks for the photo!

Lol your close Alta ,come on by in the summer I'll show you around,take you to kamploops ,penticton ,oliver and the such, I would be happy for you to see the local flora.

Happy gardening
Daryl

Alta I stand corrected,Officially Osoyoos is canada's only desert it's about an hours drive from here.

Daryl:)

Osoyoos, an oasis in the desert.

Canada's only desert extends past Osoyoos Lake to Skaha Lake, and west up the Similkameen Valley towards Keremeos, approximately 24 km. (15 miles). This area receives an average rainfall of less than 12 inches per year. The desert plants and animals of this area are found nowhere else in Canada. The "Osoyoos Arid Biotic Zone" is a continuation of the Sonoran Desert that extends from Mexico right up to the Okanagan Valley. While irrigation has made Osoyoos a lush green oasis, it is interesting to note that the desert continues undisturbed where there is no water.

The Osoyoos area receives over 2000 hours of sunshine annually and provides all the characteristics of a true desert (rocks, sand, cactus, sagebrush, soft rolling hills), along with early springs, long hot, dry summers and beautiful sunny autumns.
Daytime temperatures during the summer months average around 38C/100F and dropping to 16C/60F at night.
Osoyoos elevation is approx. 910 feet above sea level.

Just some other info I gathered

Daryl

Okay, I give up - if the Tourism Bureau wants the Okanagan to be in the Sonoran Desert, then who can argue with that? LOL! (Sure would save a lot of travelling next time I get a hankering to see saguaros and cordons and palo verde...)

My only point is that the Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia, Canada is not literally in the Sonoran Desert.
Here's a very general map of the Sonoran Desert, and map of the other deserts of North America:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoran_Desert
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/desert/namdesrt.html




This message was edited Apr 21, 2008 9:04 PM

I know what your saying alta I've seen the maps as well I'm just having a little fun. The okanagan valley is also refered to as canadas desert wine country,they just stretch the truth a little (wink) .Got to run have to mow the tumbleweed and take my rattlesnake for a crawl lol!

Daryl