Flower profile

Bottle gentian

Gentiana clausa

Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is a flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly September–October across the U.S.

Native to New Hampshire

Bottle gentian is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Hampshire it's most often seen in bloom in September.

15states where USDA records it

281NH sightings*

2,201U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: New Hampshire

Quick look

Gentiana clausa, one of several plants with the common name "bottle gentian", is a 1'–2' tall flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is native to Eastern North American moist meadows and woods at higher elevations, from Quebec in the north, through the Appalachian range to North Carolina and Tennessee in the south.
From Wikipedia's article Gentiana clausa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Gentianaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire. ^NatureServe
In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 281 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #96 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In New Hampshire, most flowering sightings come in September.

Flowering records by month in New Hampshire (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (99 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
New Hampshire: Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. ^{NH Ncr 312}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: RI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bottle gentian in 15 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Bottle gentian a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.8 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 5.8 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 100
Annual precipitation range: 36 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring, Summer, Fall
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GECL. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 166 counties across 10 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (58), New York (25), Virginia (24).

Other Gentiana on Bloomipedia (3): Mountain bog gentian, Parry's gentian, Broad-petal gentian.

More from the Gentianaceae family (8 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Monument plant, Rosepink, Meadow pink, Felwort, Rocky Mountain fringed gentian.

More New Hampshire flowers

Canada mayflower

Maianthemum canadense

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: May–June

Canadian bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: May–July

Hobblebush

Viburnum lantanoides

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: May–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GECL.
iNaturalist, Gentiana clausa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Gentiana clausa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Gentiana clausa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Laura J. Costello via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.