Plant · GBIF taxon 3170087
Closed Bottle Gentian
Gentiana andrewsiiAlso known as Bottle Gentian, Closed Gentian
Closed bottle gentians are celebrated for their striking, deep-blue flowers that famously remain shut throughout their entire bloom cycle. Because the tight corolla petals never uncurl, only vigorous bumblebees have the strength to force their way inside to drink nectar and carry pollen. Plants bloom late into autumn, providing a critical late-season fuel reserve across moist prairies and wetland margins before winter sets in.
WildflowerWetlandAutumn Bloomer
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photoautotrophic
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsWetland drainage, agricultural conversion, and invasive species encroachment
HabitatsWet prairies, fens, sedge meadows, ditches, and moist stream borders
Life spanPerennial (often surviving 10 or more years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGentianaceae
- SpeciesGentiana andrewsii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Pollinator Spotting: Watch the flowers closely on sunny afternoons to see bumblebees vanish entirely inside the closed petals.
- Habitat Clues: Search along wet prairie swales and ditch banks from late August through October.
- Garden Cultivation: Preserve native root systems by sourcing only nursery-propagated plants for rain gardens.
Pollinator USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Same Family (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.