Common Name:

General Information

Gentiana olivieri is a herbaceous perennial plant with 1 - 3 erect stems arising from a basal rosette of leaves; it grows around 15 - 30cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Asia - Kazakhstan, Turkey and Syria, east to western China (Xinjiang) and Afghanistan

Habitat

Grassland over limestone, marl or clay; at elevations from 350 - 2,300 metres.

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana olivieri is native to mountainous regions in the temperate zone of western and central Asia, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,300 metres. A moderately cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -15°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[]. This species requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The flowers are used in the treatment of cardiac ailments[].

The plant is used as a sudorific[].

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.