One of the great joys of the hardy alpine garden, Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian) is an evergreen perennial forming a slowly spreading mat of narrowly ovate, gray-green leaves. In mid-late spring to early summer, intense ultramarine blue, star-like flowers unfold from pyramid-shaped buds over several weeks. Facing upward, they reveal their five propeller-shaped petals and white throats. Generally short-lived, but readily replenished from cuttings or seeds, Spring Gentian is definitely worth trying. The flowers may be only 2-3 in. tall (5-7 cm), but the depth of their color will stop you in your tracks. One of the most sought after rock garden plants.

• Grows up to 2-6 in. tall and wide (5-15 cm).
• Thrives in full sun, in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils.
• Ideal for garden edging, rock gardens or containers.
• Rabbit resistant.
• Watch for slugs, snails, aphids and rust.
• Propagate by seed in containers in an open frame as soon as seed is ripe. Propagate by division or root offsets in spring.
• Native to the European mountains eastward to Turkey and the Caucasus