Botanical name:

Gentianella cerina 

Common name(s):

Auckland Island gentian

About:

Confined exclusively to the subantarctic Auckland Islands, this is a particularly attractive species. Characterised by its low trailing stems that support a lush display of oblong leaves, it features showy flowers that are grouped prominently towards the ends of the branches. These flowers are strikingly white, adorned with prominent crimson veins that beautifully merge into a vibrant and colourful central zone. Cultivating this remarkable species proves to be quite challenging, as it requires a cool, shady site and a specially prepared peaty soil mix to thrive successfully.

Natural habitat: 

Coastal turf-lands, Chionochloa antarctica tussock-lands and Poa littorosa grasslands, Marsippospermum gracile and Pleurophyllum hookeri sedge-land or bare ground on summit fell-fields, rarely in forest

Growing environment:

Frost, Shade & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s subantarctic Auckland Islands

Height: 15cm

Flowering:  

December – April with a violet or purple coloured flower/s 

Fruiting:

March - May

Uses: 

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings

How to grow:

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild. When in flower they are charming and beautiful but are really plants for the specialist alpine grower, requiring a cool shady site and a specially prepared peaty soil mix. Propagation usually by seed.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though