About
Gentiana 'Inverleith' is a herbaceous perennial gentian with trailing stems to 20 cm, bearing narrow, light-green leaves and solitary, terminal, rich-blue, funnel-shaped flowers to 6.5 cm long with darker stripes on the outside. One of the finest of the autumn-flowering hybrid gentians for a moist, lime-free rock garden or peat bed.
About the genus
Gentiana, the gentians, are annuals, biennials and herbaceous or evergreen perennials producing mostly showy, trumpet-, funnel- or salver-shaped flowers, famously in brilliant blue but also in white, yellow and purple. They range from tiny alpine cushion plants to tall border perennials and include species for every season.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery
HabitMatforming
FoliageDeciduous
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Rock garden, Gravel garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in reliably moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid or neutral soil. Site in sun only where summers are cool and damp, otherwise site in partial shade
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceSlugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite and aphids may be a problem
Disease resistanceProne to a rust and soil fungal diseases