This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Cream Gentian
Gentiana alba
PerennialCream Gentian
Gentiana alba
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Sun – Part Shade
Water
Medium
Soil
Loam
Size
1.5-3'
Bloom
Cream, Aug–Sep
Why Grow It
Deer Resistant
Great for gardens without fencing
Late Bloomer
Provides nectar when others have faded
Long Blooming
Flowers for many weeks through the season
Easy to Grow
Low maintenance & beginner friendly
Did You Know?
Bumblebees are the primary pollinators because they are the only insects strong enough to force open the nearly closed flowers.
It is the first gentian species to bloom each year, flowering in late summer before its blue-flowered relatives.
Once established, Cream Gentian requires almost no maintenance and can persist in the same spot for decades.
Wildlife Value
🐝
Bumblebees
Primary pollinators that force open closed flowers
🦋
Fritillary Butterflies
Visit flowers for late-season nectar
🐛
Gentian Borer Moth
Larvae develop inside stems and roots
Good Companions
🌾 Prairie Dropseed
💜 Smooth Blue Aster
🌿 Rattlesnake Master
🌼 Stiff Goldenrod
Planting Guide
- Sow seed on surface in fall; needs cold stratification to germinate.
- Choose part shade with moist, well-drained prairie soil.
- Water regularly the first year; established plants are low-maintenance.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li