Gentiana clusii

SWEET LADY FLOWER

No WA

Gentiana clusii
SWEET LADY FLOWER

The flowers of Gentiana clusii are like drops of the sky splashed across the ground.
Not permitted for WA

Drops of sky splashed across the ground

Because deep, dark blue trumpets open with a richness of colour so lovely – it just melts your heart.
And the large trumpets sit perkily upright, beaming up at you above a mat of low, spreading foliage.
With each trumpet boldly flashing their striped and spotted blue throats.

Tightknit groundcover for small spaces

Gentiana clusii is prized as a groundcover for smaller spaces.
Parading a succession of flowers from late spring across into summer, with a breath taking intensity of deep blue in the trumpets.
So no wonder it is known in common parlance as the “Sweet Lady Flower” – it is indeed very sweet.

And it is a very suitable size for smaller gardens, tight spaces or decorative pots.
Because this groundcover Gentian grows as a tight knit clump.
So the virtually stemless flowers are massed close together creating a vivid sheet.
Making it a stunner to plant under roses, flowering shrubs, or as a front edge to a garden bed.

Happy groundcover under taller friends

Gentiana clusii happily grows in Part shade, Dappled Shade, or Morning Sun.
So it is perfect as an underplanting for taller plants.
Where it relishes the dappled light and some shade during the middle of the day from its taller companion.
Gentiana clusii is a low maintenance, no fuss plant.

Easily pleased with lime

Sweet Lady Flower is also easily grown where the soil has a lime, alkaline pH.
So it is an ideal companion underplanting for roses, who also enjoy well limed soil.
Especially if they are encouraged with compost and humous – both the Gentian and the roses will thrive.
Gentiana clusii also prefers to be well drained, just as the roses do.
So sandy, rocky or gravelly soils, with some compost or summer mulch are ideal.
It also enjoys the natural drainage of a slope, along a raised garden edge, and it is lovely draping over the edge of a pot.

Frost hardy & not thirsty

Gentiana clusii is very frost hardy, and not a particularly thirsty plant.
So average garden watering is ample, as required by the weather.

Rabbit resistant

Rabbits find Gentian distasteful and hop by on their way to the lettuce patch.
However bees love foraging down the deep blue trumpets and take advantage of the landing stripes marked out in the throats.

Hardy long lived treasure

Once you have this blue treasure – it will be with you for may years.
Because Gentiana clusii is noted as a hardy, long lived and much prized perennial.

10-15cm. High in full trumpet x 20cm. Wide of tight groundcover foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Indoors: First sow seed in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently press the seeds onto the surface of the mix, to ensure good contact.

Now barely cover the seed to a depth 1mm. approx.
And you can use sieved mix, fine grit, vermiculite, or washed sand to sprinkle over the seeds.

Then stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath.
So the moisture percolates up through the mix from the bottom to thoroughly moisten the mix throughout.
Soak for a short time until moisture appears on the surface of the mix, and then remove and drain.
Because the mix needs to be moist throughout, but not wet.

Now place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (Not in any direct sunlight).
Temperatures of 18-22C are beneficial for this preparation period.
And continue to keep moist for 2 weeks, by misting from a spray water bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear lid, plastic bag, or glass will also help to keep consistent moisture and prevent drying out. 

Give a period of chilling in the fridge

Now wrap the sown, moist punnet in cling-wrap and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.

After the period of chilling, remove from fridge, unwrap, moisten again, and place the punnet in a cool position (not in any direct sun).

Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
And continue to keep the punnet moist by spraying the surface of the mix a fine spray water bottle, or re-soaking in the water bath, as required.
The mix is best kept consistently moist for Gentians.
Adding a plastic cover helps to retain moisture in the punnet.

Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 14 days.
However be patient and do not discard the punnet, as it is normal for these seeds to germinate over a staggered time. This is a natural precaution by the plant to ensure at least some seeds germinate into ideal weather conditions.

Seed Count: 40 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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