How much sun does Bottle gentian need?

Bottle gentian grows best in part sun conditions.

When does Bottle gentian bloom?

Bottle gentian blooms in August, September, and October.

Where is Bottle gentian native?

Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is native to CT, DC, MA, MD and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Bottle gentian attract?

Bottle gentian draws bumble bees.

Bottle gentian

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Gentiana clausa

Last reviewed: September 2026

Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is a perennial forb native to CT, DC, MA, MD and 12 more states. It blooms in August, September, and October. The flowers draw bumble bees.

Toxicity unknown

Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

12"–24" H × 8"–12" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

CT, DC, MA, MD and 12 more states

Pollinators

bumble bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Piedmont Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Northern Forests Northern Piedmont Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Upright perennial with dark green leaves and clusters of deep blue, bottle-shaped flowers that never fully open. Blooms in late summer and fall in moist meadows and woodland edges.

Growing Bottle gentian

Grow Bottle gentian in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 8 to 12 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Flowers are pollinated almost exclusively by bumble bees strong enough to force open the closed petals.

Common questions

How much sun does Bottle gentian need?: Bottle gentian grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Bottle gentian bloom?: Bottle gentian blooms in August, September, and October.
Where is Bottle gentian native?: Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is native to CT, DC, MA, MD and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Bottle gentian attract?: Bottle gentian draws bumble bees.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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