Gentiana 'DIANA' summer gentian

Diana is an attractive and abundantly flowering hybrid variety of summer gentian developed by Vaste Plantenkwekerij de Leeuw Ploegstraat from the Netherlands. It begins to bloom in the second half of July and blooms for a very long time, often until September when autumn gentians take over. It has the typical dark blue colour which among colour specialists and designers is known by a well-deserved name gentian blue. The flowers are narrowly tubular to campanulate but held upright, with white stripes inside the throat. And if you look from close up you will find that the flowers are slightly freckled inside. Careful removing of spent flowers is strongly recommended – first to prevent the plant from producing seeds that is slightly exhausting and new flower buds will form quicker, and secondly to stop moulds inside from withered flower petals during a humid period.

It is a low-growing variety that forms dense carpets with small, narrowly ovate, fresh green leaves on mostly upright stems that are about 10 cm long. In spring cut the entire plant just above the ground level. European plant patent No. EU 13389 was granted in 2004.

If you provide gentian with the same conditions as in the wild, it will grow well without any care. It naturally occurs in moist meadows where its rich blue flowers suddenly turn up from the midst of low grass. Although considered an alpine plant for rockeries, it requires moisture, which is ensured by the surrounding greenery, which protects the soil from drying out with its stems and leaves. But it cannot live in constantly wet ground – it must drain well. It loves full sun where it reliably opens the flowers on a sunny day – it won’t flower in the shade or on cloudy days. Ideal soil pH is neutral and lack of nutrients can be helped by mycorrhiza (soil fungi). Hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 25-08-2022