Flower profile

Mountain bog gentian

Gentiana calycosa

Mountain bog gentian (Gentiana calycosa) is a flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native to Montana

Mountain bog gentian is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Montana it's most often seen in bloom in July–August.

8states where USDA records it

646MT sightings*

4,193U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Montana

Quick look

Gentiana calycosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial gentian known by the common names explorer's gentian, Rainier pleated gentian, and mountain bog gentian.
From Wikipedia's article Gentiana calycosa, 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 8 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Montana. ^NatureServe
In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.6 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 646 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #66 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Montana, most flowering sightings come in July–August.

Flowering records by month in Montana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (120 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: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
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.

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 mountain bog gentian in 8 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Teton.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Mountain bog gentian a low shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.6 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 7 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: None
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.6 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: 7 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 120
Annual precipitation range: 25 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Black · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GECA. 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.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Pneumonanthe calycosa.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 79 counties across 8 states; the most are in California (16), Idaho (15), Washington (15).

Other Gentiana on Bloomipedia (3): Parry's gentian, Bottle 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 Montana flowers

Monument plant

Frasera speciosa

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in MT

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: July–August

Common beargrass

Xerophyllum tenax

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GECA.
iNaturalist, Gentiana calycosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Gentiana calycosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Gentiana calycosa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Tom Field via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.