Gentiana 'LITTLE PINKIE'

Gentian is one of the most beautiful perennials where the most sought after varieties bear blue flowers. Because their blue is true blue, bluer than the ocean, darker than the summer sky, almost like indigo. The family consists of more than 400 species which often hybridize among themselves. Gentian blue is also an accepted name of a certain colour tone, however, where has it gone when it comes to pink coloured varieties? Only the best breeders know, and in this case the one who knows is a New Zealand company RNZD who bred this pink diamond called Little Pinkie. In Europe it is represented by CNB New Plants from the Netherlands, and patented as PP26013 in 2015.

Little Pinkie is a unique hybrid gentian with rich pink to purple pink flowers. It makes compact, handsome carpets of dark green, glossy, thick, and ovate to shortly lanceolate leaves with plentiful of flowers. They are broadly trumpet-shaped, erect, and open only in full sun, and close in the afternoon while showing their pink colour on the closed flowers. They are borne atop very short stems (10-15 cm), and regular deadheading will help promote production of new flower buds. Little Pinkie is a cross between spring and autumn gentian owing to which it can bloom from as early as late spring until the last days of warm and sunny autumn.

Gentian is a slow growing, mat-forming perennial requiring virtually no maintenance, however, the issue could be its planting. First you have to find a suitable location which will imitate its native habitat - a moist and sunny meadow with fertile soil. Never let the plant dry out but never overwater it. Never plant it in clay. The soil needs to be naturally humus-rich and additional fertilizing must be very gentle. Use only organic fertilizers that are applied for foliage, or slow-release fertilizers for soil. Gentians love plenty of sun but dislike dry heat. Autumn flowering species require slightly acid soil. Hardy to about -24°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 23-09-2018; 04-10-2018