Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Gentiana calycosa

Bog Gentian · Explorer's Gentian · Mount Rainier Pleated Gentian · Rainier Pleated Gentian

Family GentianaceaeGenus Gentiana

A deep blue-violet bell flower opened flat, its throat darkly streaked and bearded, among paired oval leaves.
FlowerUnknownPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.6 ft20 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
BluePLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
5.6-7.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: NonePLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

20% germination in 21–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Gentiana p. 45Public domain
Show the original text
Gentiana (Gentianaceae). !s st'mulat.on by GA-3, light, and oscillating T, but there is ^i ls anifican germination in70D. About half the seeds died afte'r 1 y G. calycosa seeds were all dead after 1 y DS 4 0 - 7 0 ^^ - 3rd w), and 70D %). (2 1y^ere dea^ ISe ^ ^" A S m a" ™ '10%> - OT Seeds DS liahtorGA^hSLS!«°n? ?erm. 70D(20% in 3-5 w) and 40-70D(20%) with r tl 9 effeCt" Th,s 18 'nconS'stent with results from the earlier sam^e a rth 1 germination^ ^ ^ "ght 0r G A'3 a re r 6^u i r ed f or
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Gentiana p. 45. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

20% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Gentiana p. 45Public domain
Show the original text
Gentiana (Gentianaceae). !s st'mulat.on by GA-3, light, and oscillating T, but there is ^i ls anifican germination in70D. About half the seeds died afte'r 1 y G. calycosa seeds were all dead after 1 y DS 4 0 - 7 0 ^^ - 3rd w), and 70D %). (2 1y^ere dea^ ISe ^ ^" A S m a" ™ '10%> - OT Seeds DS liahtorGA^hSLS!«°n? ?erm. 70D(20% in 3-5 w) and 40-70D(20%) with r tl 9 effeCt" Th,s 18 'nconS'stent with results from the earlier sam^e a rth 1 germination^ ^ ^ "ght 0r G A'3 a re r 6^u i r ed f or
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Gentiana p. 45. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page