Flowers of the Alps

Spring Gentian

Gentiana verna or Frühlingsenzlan

Photo taken on the Kreuzjoch, Stubai Alps, at 2000m: Alan Hartley

This popular charming star shaped flower with its vivid blue petals, stands just 50mm tall and is one of the smallest of the gentian family. It likes to populate south facing, grassy and chalky slopes up to about 2600m and is one of the first flowers to appear when winter snow disappears. It is a favourite of bumblebees which pollinate the flowers, but the seeds are often spread by ants. Fully protected in many alpine countries. In the UK it is only found in Teesdale and is the country flower of Durham!

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