Bloomipedia
Broad-petal gentian (Gentiana platypetala)
Photo: Roger Rittmaster via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Broad-petal gentian

Gentiana platypetala

Broad-petal gentian (Gentiana platypetala) is a flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

Broad-petal gentian is a wildflower. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

1states where USDA records it
531AK sightings*
531U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

  • It belongs to the Gentianaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. NatureServe
  • In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 531 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #81 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in July–September.

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (123 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
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Alaska. NatureServe

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 broad-petal gentian in 1 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Chugach, Copper River, Fairbanks North Star, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Yakutat.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 10 counties across 1 states; the most are in Alaska (10).

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

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

More Alaska flowers

Felwort (Swertia perennis)

Felwort

Swertia perennis

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: July–August
Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Sources