Gentianaceae

Usually thought of as diminutive, blue-flowered plants for the alpine trough the gentian family includes many other flower colours including pink, yellow and purple.

There are others such as the Great Yellow Gentian, Gentiana lutea, that merit a place in a traditional border and are far from delicate in their constitution.

Gentiana

The genus Gentiana contains many of the typically blue-flowered species. Most are perennial although some are shortlived, with a few annual species such as the Alpine Gentian, Gentiana nivalis.