King’s Gentian

King gentian is a striking perennial wildflower native to coastal wetlands, wet meadows, and marshes of the Pacific Northwest. Growing 1–3 feet tall, it produces upright stems lined with opposite leaves and clusters of deep blue to violet, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from late summer into fall. The flowers are an important late-season nectar source for bumblebees and other pollinators, which are strong enough to pry the flowers open. Adapted to moist, often seasonally flooded soils, king gentian is a valuable component of wetland ecosystems and adds vibrant color to native restoration plantings and rain gardens.