Gentiana scabra, seeds

Gentiana scabra
Gentiana scabra belongs to the family of the Gentianaceae. It is also known as Japanese
Gentian. G. scabra is native to China, Korea and Japan. Many of our local Gentian species are
under protection. G. scabra grows as an herbaceous plant that reaches a height of about 30 to
60 cm. It is a popular shrub for natural gardens and covers the soil very well.
The leaves are dark green and much longer than wide. The leaves are directly at the shoot
without a petiole. The flowers are dark blue with a white center. They look like the flowers of
the Campanula species. The flowers are hermaphrodites.
The fruit is a capsule that contains a lot of small, thin seeds.
The roots of G. scabra are very sensitive, one should be really careful when replanting.
G. scabra is used in the Chinese medicine. Most of the time it is used in addition to other
medical herbs. G. scabra is used internally and externally and helps mainly against damps.

Cultivation

The seeds of G. scabra need stratification. Therefore the seeds should be put into the fridge for 5 to 6 weeks. Simply mix them with a bit of moist soil and store cold.
That treatment is necessary for a safe germination.
G. scabra needs it constantly moist. The substrate should be sandy- clayey or gritty- clayey.
The plant is winter hardy until minus 30 °C but it does not survive heat.

Gentiana scabra
Gentiana scabra belongs to the family of the Gentianaceae. It is also known as Japanese
Gentian. G. scabra is native to China, Korea and Japan. Many of our local Gentian species are
under protection. G. scabra grows as an herbaceous plant that reaches a height of about 30 to
60 cm. It is a popular shrub for natural gardens and covers the soil very well.
The leaves are dark green and much longer than wide. The leaves are directly at the shoot
without a petiole. The flowers are dark blue with a white center. They look like the flowers of
the Campanula species. The flowers are hermaphrodites.
The fruit is a capsule that contains a lot of small, thin seeds.
The roots of G. scabra are very sensitive, one should be really careful when replanting.
G. scabra is used in the Chinese medicine. Most of the time it is used in addition to other
medical herbs. G. scabra is used internally and externally and helps mainly against damps.
Cultivation
The seeds of G. scabra need stratification. Therefore the seeds should be covered slightly
with substrate. After that they should stand for a few days at a temperature of about 10 °C. In
that period they can store water. After that they should be put into the fridge for 5 to 6 weeks.
That treatment is necessary for a safe germination.
G. scabra needs it constantly moist. The substrate should be sandy- clayey or gritty- clayey.
The plant is winter hardy until minus 30 °C but it does not survive heat.