downy gentian

Gentiana puberulenta

Description:

Downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. It has bright blue or purple flowers that bloom in the late summer and fall. The flowers have a distinctive frilly texture and are often used in bouquets and floral arrangements. The plant has downy leaves and stems, and can grow up to 2 feet tall. Downy gentian is typically found in moist, shady areas, such as along streams and in meadows. It is a member of the gentian family, which also includes other well-known wildflowers such as the fringed gentian and the bottle gentian.

Details:

downy gentian

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
GEPU5	downy gentian	Gentiana puberulenta

ITIS TSN: 29984

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Asteridae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Gentianaceae

Counties: Adams, Burnett, Columbia, Dane, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Pierce, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, St. Croix, Walworth, Waukesha, Waushara, Wood

Natural Community:

Curtis Community:

Coefficient of Conservation: 9

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Forb/herb	L48(N)CAN(N)

NR40 Listed Plant	Noxious Weed:	Invasive Species (NR40):	Threatened/Endangered:	WI Natural Heritage Index:	Wetland Status
		Native			UPL

Active Growth Period:

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat:

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:

Coppice Potential:

Conspicuous Fall Color: No

Fire Resistant:

Flower Color:

Conspicuous Flower: Yes

Foliage Color: Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer:

Foliage Porosity Winter:

Foliage Texture:

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Fruit/Seed Conspicuous:

Growth Form:

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Known Alelopath: No

Re-sproutability:

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Toxicity:

Height (min):

Height (max):

Root Type:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement: opposite

Leaf Shape: lanceolate

Leaf Margin: entire

Vein Pattern: parallel

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils:

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils:

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils:

Anaerobic Tolerance:

CaCO3 Tolerance:

Cold Stratification Required:

Drought Tolerance:

Fertility Requirement:

_Fire Tolerance:

Frost Free Days, Minimum:

Hedge Tolerance:

Moisture Use: Low, Medium

pH (Minimum):

pH (Maximum):

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Plant Spacing (max):

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Late Summer	Routinely Available

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
No	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No		Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
6960000

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

Benefits: Pollinators

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
No	No	No

Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
No	No	No

Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
Yes	--	--

Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
No	No	--

Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
No	No

Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:
Pollinators

References:

iNaturalist Database – Gentiana puberulenta
USDA Plants Database – Gentiana puberulenta
Wisflora Database – Gentiana puberulenta

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