Common Name:

General Information

Gentiana clusii is a tufted, herbaceous perennial plant forming rosettes of leaves and stems up to 15cm tall[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild and used to make the aperitif 'Gentian Schnaps'. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central and southern Europe - mountainous regions from France and Germany east to Ukraine and Romania

Habitat

Found in communities in limestone soils, growing in hay meadows and poor pastures, on turf and rocks; at elevations from 1,200 - 2,760 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.08 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana clusii is native to mountainous regions in the temperate zone of central and southern Europe where it is found at elevations up to 2,760 metres. A moderately cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -20°c[].
Gentiana species generally grow best when there is ample moisture to the roots in the growing season, but they also require very good drainage[]. Often being native to mountainous regions, they require a certain minimum of atmospheric humidity; a high light intensity; but also a site where temperatures are not too high in the growing season[]. They are therefore more difficult to grow in areas with hot summers and in such a region they appreciate some protection from the strongest sunlight[, ]. Most species will grow well in the rock garden[]. An easy species to grow, doing well in a rock garden[]. It succeeds in a sunny position in an ordinary, somewhat loamy soil which never becomes too dry[]. Another report says that it grows best on calcareous soils[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

The root of this species is too thin to be of much value as a medicinal plant, nevertheless the whole, dried plant is sometimes used as a bitter flavouring in the aperitif and tonic alcoholic beverage 'Gentian Schnaps'[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[]. It can also be sown in late winter or early spring but the seed germinates best if given a period of cold stratification and quickly loses viability when stored, with older seed germinating slowly and erratically[, ]. It is advantageous to keep the seed at about 10°c for a few days after sowing, to enable the seed to imbibe moisture[]. Following this with a period of at least 5 - 6 weeks with temperatures falling to between 0 and -5°c will usually produce reasonable germination[]. It is best to use clay pots, since plastic ones do not drain so freely and the moister conditions encourage the growth of moss, which will prevent germination of the seed[]. The seed should be surface-sown, or only covered with a very light dressing of compost. The seed requires dark for germination, so the pots should be covered with something like newspaper or be kept in the dark until germination begins[]. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. The seedlings grow on very slowly, taking 2 - 7 years to reach flowering size[]. When the plants are of sufficient size, place them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division of larger clumps in early summer after the plant has flowered[]. Dig up the entire plant, divide it into 2 - 3 fair-sized clumps with a spade or knife, and replant immediately[]. Alternatively, individual rosettes can be carefully removed from the clump, these can be potted up for a few weeks before being planted in their permanent positions[].