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 December
1997
 Sempervivum
species
November
1997
Allium
thunbergii
 October
1997
Gentiana
scabra
September
1997
Sedum
cauticola
August
1997
Allium
senescens glaucum
July
1997
Delphinium
tatsienense
June
1997
Dianthus
gratianopolitanus
May
1997
Penstemon
rupicola
April
1997
Tulipa
tarda
March
1997
Iris
reticulata
February
1997
Saxifraga
longifolia
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2002
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2001
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2000
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1999
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1998
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Plant
of the Month
October
1997
Gentiana
scabra
by Frank Cooper
Gentiana
scabra is a native of northern
Asia and Japan. It takes advantage of the Japanese climate,
blooming during the crisp fall weather that can last for
months in Japan.
The usual varieties encountered
include:
G. scabra
buergeri (Tskushi-rindo) is
reminiscent of Gentiana
puberulenta. It is erect, up to
12" (30 cm.) tall, with deep blue to ultramarine flowers. It
is the easiest and most vigorous variety. It is easily
recognizable by its glabrous stems.
G. scabra
procumbens (Kirishima rindo) is
a sprawling, mid blue that is dominant in seed
mixtures.
G. scabra
saxatilis, (Kumaeagawa) is a
dainty tuffet forming light blue variety with maroon on the
outside of the petal, accentuated by reddish upper stems and
leaves.
G.
scabra is at its best on crisp
fall days lasting through several frosts. This is the
gentian to grow where the summer is too hot for asiastics.
It blooms from September to November, depending on the
weather, producing seed in November or December. It is easy
to grow from seed, easier than
G.
septemfida, requiring only a
3-4 week cold stratification and then grown at 65 to 68
degrees.Culture is very easy in well drained soil that never
dries out or gets soggy with high shade to sun as long as
it's not hot. Even moisture is the most critical factor.
This gentian is the queen of the late fall
garden.
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