zeltnera venusta
TRANSCRIPT
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
Other
Management: Probably easy. Needs adequate water until starts to flower.
Propagation: from seed: in pots or prepared ground in spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8 1/9/07 © Project SOUND