Minnesota Wildflowers


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Gentiana flavida (Yellow Gentian)

Plant Info
Also known as: Cream Gentian, Pale Gentian, Plain Gentian
Genus:Gentiana
Family:Gentianaceae (Gentian)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; moist soil; open woods, meadows
Bloom season:August - October
Plant height:1 to 3 feet
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: indistinct Flower shape: tubular Cluster type: round

[photo of flowers] The 1½ to 2-inch tubular yellowish white flowers form a stalkless cluster on the end of the stem but several flowers may also be produced in leaf axils in the upper plant. The petal tube faces up, the 5 short toothed lobes barely opening. The petals are covered in greenish yellow venation.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, broadly rounded or somewhat heart-shaped at the base, tapered to a pointed tip, opposite except for a whorl of leaves just below the terminal flower cluster. The surfaces and edges smooth and glossy with 3 veins underneath, stalkless, the base of leaf pairs often touching. Stems are hairless and mostly unbranched.

Notes:

Similar to Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) which can sometimes be white but its flowers remain closed, the overlapping flower lobes are rounded with fine teeth at their tips. The leaves on Bottle Gentian are over-all smaller, 3-7 nerved, have rough edges, and the bases of leaf pairs do not touch. Yellow Gentian often goes by Latin name Gentiana alba, but the accepted name in Minnesota is G. flavida.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Morning Sky Greenery - Native Prairie Plants
  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds
  • Sunrise Native Plants - Adding Balance to Your Landscape

More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Whitewater State Park. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Fillmore County and a private garden in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: maia in Lebanon Hills Regional park, Dakota county
on: 2012-08-18 22:35:35

On trail around McDonough Lake

Posted by: Lisa in Richard J. Dorer Forest
on: 2012-08-21 23:49:13

About 3 miles outside Preston, in a couple places on the edge of the forest road. A new flower for me!

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