Great Plant Pick: Willowleaf gentian
Published 1:30 am Friday, August 26, 2022
What: Willowleaf gentian is one of the easiest and most satisfying gentians to grow. It produces graceful, arching stems that rise to about 18 to 24 inches and form a loose mound. In midsummer, flower buds appear down the center of each stem. In late summer to early autumn they open to rich sky-blue, a color rarely seen in the garden. This handsome perennial is especially effective planted on a slope to create a cascading effect. It looks great with ferns. Mix it with silver-variegated (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ or variegated lungworts, for example) or golden-foliage perennials, such as Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, for dramatic contrast.
Where: Plant willowleaf gentian in part sun or an open spot with bright shade. It will scorch in full sun. It prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil with average water and suffers if it dries out in the summer.
Size: Grows to 2 feet tall by 2½ feet wide in 10 years.
Care: Water regularly during dry weather.
— greatplantpicks.org
