Gentiana asclepiadea ‘Willow Gentian’Larry Davidson
We think of August as a time when the garden begins to slide into fall's riot of colour in leaves and blooms. This spectacular time of year gets even better when you surround yourself with the autumn blues: Monkshood, Asters and Lobelias are all extremely hardy plants that will come into their own in a few weeks. Traditional plants ignite the senses; from the wild tomato red of Echinacea cultivars to the flaming pinks of Liatris, colours abound. The blues are more muted in their effect, but not in the delivery of sensual delight.
The one plant that outshines them all is the 'Willow Gentian' (Gentiana asclepiadea). It has a fascinating structure; slender stalks grow up to 60 cm tall, in a nice tight clump which is almost as wide in maturity. The leaves grow all the way down the stems, drawing them earthward to form arches. The glorious blue trumpet blooms come out in the next week, approximately, and they will bloom well into September. There are dozens on each stalk and the effect is thrilling.
The fact that 'Willow Gentian' grows in part shade is an astonishing bonus – normally colour this intense is found only in sunny areas. Though this lovely plant can take some sun, its natural home is in high dappled shade (this is a special treat during the waning of the garden year). As a mature plant, it can produce hundreds of blooms from Zone 5 and upward.
All Gentians may be a little finicky to get started and perhaps that's why it's unusual to see them in very many gardens; they certainly aren't part of the landscaper vocabulary. However, this is a plant to stick with because it's herbaceous (it disappears in winter needing little protection), and it's very long-lived. What's absolutely necessary is the deep organic matter of a woodland setting, so put lots of compost around the surface of the soil once planting is complete. Make sure you plant in relatively moist soil that stays relatively moist, but not soggy. Water them deeply and keep on doing so for the first few months. And remember, these plants can't dry out or you'll lose them.
I like them as an edge plant; they look marvelous with Hellebores, Ferns and Sedges. Don't bother planting them in containers, they don't look quite right. Stick to a woodland setting and be dazzled by the 'Willow Gentian', one of autumn's most wonderful secrets.
Find Gentiana asclepiadea 'Willow Gentian' at Lost Horizons in Acton, Ont., where it retails for $18.95.