NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Gentiana autumnalis

Scientific Name:	Gentiana autumnalis
Genus:	Gentiana
Species Epithet:	autumnalis
Common Name:	Pinebarren Gentian, Autumn Gentian
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft., 1-3 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Blue
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist
Bloom Time:	Jan, September, October, November, December
Growing Area:	Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods, sandhills, pine barrens, in a variety of sites varying from moist to very xeric, in se. VA, NC, and SC nearly always associated with Pinus palustris and/or Aristida stricta (Weakley 2015). Uncommon on the NC Coastal Plain.
Leaf Arrangement:	Opposite
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Has some wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Not Recommended for home landscapes
State Rank:	S3: Vulnerable ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G3 - Vulnerable ^(*Key)
Notes:	Weakley notes this species is a "bimodal endemic," occurring in s. NJ and adjacent DE (at least formerly), and from se. VA south through e. NC to nc. SC.
Closeup of Bloom ©Alan Weakley
Leaves Carteret County ©Lynda Clay
Closed flowers Carteret County ©Lynda Clay
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record