Bottle Gentian - Gentiana andrewsii

Gentiana andrewsii, also known as Bottle Gentian, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan and the UP. Bottle Gentian reaches 2 feet tall and flowers from August to September with clusters of closed, bottle-shaped, blue blossoms. It prefers partial shade, medium to wet soil (will tolerate more sun with wetter soil) and will grow in clay, loam, rocky or shallow soil, or sand. This is a very decorative garden plant in a vibrant color that is sported by few native plants.
 
Favorite of bumblebees, who are able to force their way into the closed flowers, meaning they get all the nectar and pollen for themselves! It is amazing watching them climb completely inside, bumble around, and then pop right back out.
 
Bottle Gentian is deer and rabbit resistant. In our experience this means that they eat the flowers but don't kill the plant. Hooray.
 
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, the "genus name honors King Gentius of Illyria (reign c. 180-168) B.C., who was reputed to have discovered the medicinal virtues of the root of the yellow gentian or bitterwort (G. lutea) from which a tonic bitters is still made."