Gentian has not yet taken root with our gardeners as a popular decoration of the flowerbed. It is quite rare to find it in a modern front garden. However, this plant is undeservedly underestimated.
Gentian. Characteristic
This is a low or medium height herbaceous plant with large flowers located very close to each other, thus creating a flowering cloud. Gentian plant came to us from the wild. It is great for decorating flower beds, fringing flower arrangements, as well as for enhancing borders. This flower has collected the widest palette of blue shades. No other plant can boast such an abundance of blue, blue and purple flowers. There are about 90 species of gentian, among which there are other shades, for example, white, pink and yellow.
This is a mountain plant that grows at very high altitudes, from 1200 to 5000 meters above sea level.
Gentian has a long flowering period, which begins in the summer and ends in late autumn. It is quite common in different latitudes of Europe and Asia.
Varieties
Lush gentian is one of the smallest varieties, no more than 7 centimeters high, with narrow awl-like leaves. There is a blackout in the middle of the bell-shaped flower.
Large-leaved gentian is a medium-sized specimen reaching 10 centimeters in height, with oval green or purple leaves. The top of the stem is divided into several pieces, providing an even more magnificent flower mass. The bud itself has a bell-shaped pink shape with dark red stripes. This variety of gentian will please with its flowering from September to the end of October.
Chinese-decorated gentian is one of the larger varieties, reaching 15 cm in height, with narrow, awl-like leaves, bright and saturated striped flowers. The color of the stripes can be bright white or pale blue. These are earlier varieties that delight with their flowering from May to August.
Arethus gentian is very similar to the variety described above, differing in a palette of flowers, which happens to be pale or saturated lilac and has dark stripes in the lower part. This variety is late flowering, from August to October.
Capitate gentian is a very large variety, reaching 30 centimeters in height, with pink-purple petals that have a dotted pattern along the edge and at the base. Flowering occurs in September-October.
Yellow gentian is the most healing variety that does not differ in special decorative properties.
Gentian is pink-flowered. Another of the representatives of large, reaching 50 centimeters of plants, the flowers are pink, single, very large, indented along the edge of the petal. This is a frost-resistant crop that blooms from October to frost.
Black-leaved gentian is a small variety. The flowers are large, bright blue, strewn with white dots. It blooms in autumn, in September – October.
Gentian hardening. A large specimen, reaching 50 centimeters in height, with pale lilac flowers. The flowering period is from August to the end of October.
Gentian. Landing and care
This plant is difficult to grow, it needs a selection of special conditions. Even in spite of its unique decorative appearance, a plant such as gentian is quite rare in our gardens. Landing and caring for it is quite complicated.
The approach to each variety of gentian is quite individual. Depending on where it grows in natural conditions, it can be both photophilous, preferring sunny places, and shade-loving, not bringing sunlight. But as a rule, the western side and light partial shade are the ideal place to place them. Also, despite the fact that gentian is a mountain plant, it does not tolerate drying out and is well adapted in places with high humidity, for example, in natural or artificial reservoirs.
Breeding
There may also be some difficulty with soil selection. Gentian prefers the presence of gravel in the soil, and it is also necessary to ensure that the earth is easily permeable, since the plant does not tolerate moisture stagnation.
Propagated by dividing the bush, grafting or sowing seeds, a plant such as gentian. Planting and seedling care require attention. Gentian is difficult to grow from seeds, because the seeds are very small, and their development requires moist, well-ventilated conditions with a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius. They sprout only after 1-3 months. If the temperature rises significantly during this period, the seedlings may die. For seed germination , soil is required in the composition of sand and peat, in a ratio of 2: 1. Seeds do not sprinkle on top of the ground, but only watered, due to which they are immersed in the soil layer.
Gentian reproduction is much simpler by dividing the bush in the fall. It should be borne in mind that it is necessary to carefully preserve the earthen lump, together with the root system of the plant. So it is better to take root and not die.
Features
This plant has healing flowers. Gentian is widely used in traditional medicine recipes. Especially often they are used in Chinese and Indian culture.
At the moment, in many countries, as well as in Russia, gentian is listed in the Red Book, as it was destroyed in large quantities precisely for the purpose of use in medicine.
Healing properties
Gentian contains many glycosides - bitter substances that positively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as have an antispasmodic effect. The ground part is used in the treatment of gastritis and colitis. Yellow gentian is especially valuable with these qualities.
Plant roots are also saturated with several types of bitter glycosides, such as amarosverin, gentsiopikrin and others. These alkaloids help suppress coughing attacks, various seizures, they lower body temperature, and also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Gentian due to its high content of various alkaloids and acids is used as decoction in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder and liver. It also has an antifungal effect and is an adjunct in the treatment of arthritis, gout, heartburn, constipation and scurvy.
A beautiful and healthy gentian flower. Planting and caring for it can be difficult, but the plant will cure and please with its decorative effect. Indulge in the pleasure of planting gentian in your own garden, as the beauty of flowering easily justifies all the effort.