Gentiana acaulis – Stemless Gentian seeds

Additional Info

Starting growing Gentiana acaulis, the blue-flowered stemless gentian: an iconic alpine plant:

Cold stratifying seeds using the paper towel method:

Studies:

Medicinal, biological and phytochemical properties of Gentiana species

Description

As you may know, a Western diet is severely lacking in bitters.  Bitter flavours increase salivation which gets a better head-start on digestion, they release digestive enzymes that help break down food and aid in nutrient absorption, and they increase the amount of bile to facilitate the later stages of digestion.  They can support the immune system, balance blood sugar, help with insulin sensitivity, and is great for both providing a feeling of satiation, but also reducing sugar cravings – as an American, I could tell you a thing or two about sugar cravings…at least I could before I started taking bitters.

Arguably, one of the worst things we Westerners have done for our health and well-being is cut out bitter foods from our diet.

Enter Gentiana…

Gentiana is so bitter it’s what science uses to calibrate the upper end of the bitterness scale.  While it’s cousin Gentiana lutea is generally more recognised for it’s medicinal benefits, all Gentianas are bitterness powerhouses.  No one is saying it’s going to go down easy – you could even say that it’ll be a bitter pill to swallow – but it promises all sorts of wellness support and the science seems to back it up.

The technical bits –

Stemless Gentian forms a tight, glossy green mat, flowering in spring with large blue trumpets just 5–10 cm high. It prefers acidic to neutral, well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade, and benefits from protection from hot summer temperatures. Suitable for cool regions of New Zealand and hardy to -30°C or lower.

Germination and Cold Stratification:

Seed requires 2-3 months of cold, moist stratification (1-5°C). After stratification, sow into cool soil (10-15°C). Germination can be slow and variable — patience is essential.

Outdoor Stratification Tip:

Sow in autumn into trays or pots and leave them in a shaded, rodent-proof spot outdoors. Natural winter cold will meet their chilling requirement, and germination should occur in spring.