Gentiana andrewsii.
Bottle Gentian is a perennial wildflower native to the midwestern and eastern United States where it can often be found growing in flood plain forests, moist thickets and fens, and other swampy areas near water.
Plant grows to about 2 feet in height and produces tubular blue to purple flowers that bloom from August through October.
The flowers are unusual in that they never truly open; only determined bumblebees are strong enough to force their way into the blossoms!
Bottle Gentian
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 6 Light Requirement: Full sun to full shade Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-drained Sow Depth: Surface Plant Spacing: 12 to 24 inches Germination Note: Cold stratification required Stratification Time: 60 days Bloom Time: August through October Growing Tips
To begin germination, mix seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days (cold stratification). Then, lightly scatter the seeds on the soil's surface in a seed flat. Keep soil moist, and use a heating mat to maintain a soil temperature around 70 degrees F. Germination should occur within 4 weeks, but it may be slow and irregular.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.