Gentiana ‘Shot Silk’

Here is an autumn-flowering gentian, widely available in the nursery/garden centre trade and one well within the scope of general garden cultivation across the UK. This gentian was raised by Keith Lever of Aberconwy Nursery and received an AM from the RHS in 1991. Many fine cultivars of autumn-gentian have received names and shown great promise, only to fall by the wayside due to a fatal attack from rust or the ravages of red spider mite. This one has stood the test of time and looks likely to hold its own against some further raisings from the same “stable”.

Its large flowers are funnel-shaped and held upright and a dark, royal-blue shot through with a violet sheen. One of its strong points is its compact nature, in stark contrast to some of the old-established forms of Gentiana x macaulayi and the late-flowering species G. sino ornate. I am certain that this cultivar bears some strong blood from the rarely offered G. veitchiorum which has been represented by the hybrids: G. X stevenagensis ‘Bernardii’ and Frank Barker’. The flowers may well open towards the end of August and will continue on through September and early October in a bold planting.

It is a strong grower and increases well, best suited to a lime-free soil and given a moisture-retentive soil in an open sunny position. Autumn-flowering gentians of the Series Ornatae are likely to flower poorly if afforded too much shade and those most closely related to G. sino ornata appreciate plenty of supplementary moisture. I prefer to grow these gentians in a well-prepared bed containing plenty of acid mulch. Plants associate well with Sedum cauticolum, Crocosmia ‘Solfatare’ and Kniphofia galpinii ( syn. K. triangularis). They make a great show in a bed planted at the base of a Liquidambar or Nyssa sylvatica.

Propagation can be carried out by lifting established (3 year-old) clumps in March/April. The dormant rootstock can be carefully shaken and the strongest root thongs retained whilst the tiny spindly ones are discarded. The strong ones should be re-planted in fresh soil about 12” to 18” (30 to 45cm) apart. The newly planted material should be well watered and not allowed to dry out during the growing season. Although the raiser can enjoy up to 68cm of rainfall per annum, I find that this cultivar performs well in the dryer climes of eastern Britain.

Availability – Aberconwy Nursery, tel. 01492 580875

Edrom Nurseries, www.edromnurseries.co.uk, 018907 713864

Macplants, www.macplants.co.uk, 01875 341179