Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita)
Photos by Carla Wells
Fringed Gentian is a biennial, native wildflower in Wisconsin. It grows one to three feet tall. It has deep violet blue flowers that are two inches long and come one per stalk. The flower has blue-tipped green sepals surrounding four elongated petals, forming a flower tube. Each petal is frayed on the end. It has lance-shaped, toothless leaves that are one to two inches long. Fringed Gentian grows in moist prairies, meadows, and along streams.
This wildflower has a fascinating and specialized relationship with pollinators. Its vivid violet-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers produce nectar deep within their floral tubes, making them especially attractive to insects with long tongues. Bumblebees and swallowtail butterflies are among its visitors, capable of reaching the nectar tucked inside. The finely fringed petals serve as visual lures, compensating for the flower’s lack of fragrance—a common trait among late-season wildflowers that bloom in open, sunny habitats.
These blooms typically open only in full sun and close in cloudy weather or afternoon light, which further synchronizes their availability with the activity patterns of their preferred pollinators. While small bees and flies may also visit, the flower’s structure favors larger, long-tongued species that can navigate its narrow throat.
(SF)