Gentiana asclepiadea var. alba

Gentians are plants valued for their <strong>trumpet-shaped flowers, often blue or yellow.</strong> There are also a few species with white, pink, or red flowers. <strong>Their flowering can occur in spring, summer, or autumn.</strong> The leaves are green, entire, and opposite. The <strong>yellow gentian</strong>, <em>Gentiana lutea</em>, whose root is used to produce liqueurs and aperitifs, is perhaps the best known. It is tall and bears bright yellow flowers. However, there are also many species of gentians that form small carpets of green leaves on which magnificent blue trumpets stand out. This is the case, for example, with <em>Gentiana acaulis</em>. Gentians can be planted in full sun or partial shade. However, avoid scorching situations, such as full sun during the hottest hours of the afternoon. Ideally, they should be planted in well-draining soil that remains cool in summer. The gentian fears stagnant moisture in winter. It is a very hardy plant that requires little maintenance.