Zeltnera venusta

Charming Centaury – Centaurium venustum ssp abramsonii (sen-TORE-ee-um ven-OOS-tum)

Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)

Native to: Foothills of N. CA mountains, southwestern CA & Mojave desert ; common on dry slopes

and flats in coastal sage scrub and chaparral, grassland, woodland and forest.

Growth characteristics: annual wildflower mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.

Simple erect annual with narrow, pale-green leaves. Looks like a garden plant.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms late spring to summer (May to Jul-Aug). Flowers are bright pink with white

& yellow center, solitary at ends of branches. Flowers have lovely colors and are trumpet shaped

with spreading petals. Very showy.

Uses in the garden: Most effective massed in flowers beds or pots. Can be used to give a touch of

color in the fronts of beds, along wall or walks, in rock gardens. Great with other wildflowers and

native grasses. Would be great in pots & planters.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native gentians, carnations.

Attracts: Good bird habitat: provides seeds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to light shade

Soil Any local texture, pH

Water Requires some spring/summer water (Zone 2 or 2-3); no water after flowering to

encourage seed set.

Fertilizer none

Management: Probably easy. Needs adequate water until starts to flower.

Propagation: from seed: in pots or prepared ground in spring.

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