Gentian

Relatively underused in our gardens, Gentians form an immense group, rich in flowers of great beauty. It is advisable to choose varieties that can easily thrive in our rock gardens, far from the mountains where they originate. One can opt for the stemless GGentian or Farrer's Gentian, which comes to us from China. From the great Gentian, which reaches over 2 metres (7 feet) in height if the soil suits it, whose roots are used to prepare a well-known aperitif, to the dwarf septate Gentian, which crawls close to the ground, their flowers of an unreal, almost supernatural blue, inevitably attract the attention and desire of gardeners. White or yellow-flowered species like Gentiana lutea can also be found. They require fresh, well-drained soil and exposure to sunlight or partial shade.