Gentiana lutea subsp. Lutea

‘Yellow Gentian’

[Ex. Niedere Tauern 1990 m., Austria]

Gentianaceae: an herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 1–2m. Found grassy alpine and sub-alpine pastures, usually on calcareous soils. The flowers are yellow, with the corolla separated nearly to the base into 5–7 narrow petals, blooming from July-August. The leaves are broad lanceolate to elliptic to 30 cm long. Native to Central and Southern Europe.

USES:

The root is sometimes used in the manufacture of gentian bitters. The root contains sugar and mucilage. The root was occasionally used as a flavouring in beer before the use of hops (Humulus lupulus) became widespread. Its unique flavour is attributed to that fact. It is also used in France to produce a Limousin specialty liqueur and aperitif, with plants gathered from the Auvergne area.

Gentian root has a long history of use as an herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. It contains some of the most bitter compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness. The root has anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, and emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant and stomachic properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

These seeds are cold-germinator. The sowing must be kept warm (about +18 to +22°C) [about 64 to 72°F] and moist for the first 2–4 weeks. After this period, the sowing must be kept at a cold temperature (between –4 and +4°C) [between 25 and 39°F] for another 4–6 weeks. Seed quickly loses its viability when stored for longer than a year or so.

In general, gentians require a moist well-drained soil in a sheltered position, a certain minimum of atmospheric humidity, high light intensity but a site where temperatures are not too high. A slow-growing plant, it takes many years to reach its full stature. A moisture loving plant, growing well by water, it prefers to grow with full exposure to the sun but with plenty of underground moisture in the summer and it grows better in the north and west of Britain. Plants are very deep-rooted and are intolerant of root disturbance. They are very long lived, to 50 years or more.

HARVESTED: 2024*

APPROX. 50+ SEEDS