Gentiana lutea
Bitterwort, Felwort, Great yellow gentian
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 0.6m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a striking, yellow, very large, gentian. It has huge oblong leaves and produces a wonderful, pyramidal flowering spike with shaggy daisy flowers near the top. It has good seed heads too. Its roots are used in the production of the spirit schnapps.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.6m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Rock garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Found in
More Gentiana
Gentiana
Gentian
Gentiana asclepiadea
Willow gentian, Swallow wort
Gentiana clusii
Trumpet gentian, Clusia leaved gentian
Gentiana septemfida
Crested Gentian
Gentiana sino-ornata
Chinese gentian
Gentiana verna
Spring gentian, Vernal gentian
Gentiana occidentalis
Pyrenean gentian
Gentiana scabra Rocky Diamond Blue Heart = 'Genfire'
Japanese gentian