Gentian (solanum)

  • Gentian
  • Gentian
  • Gentian
  • Gentian

Presentation

The Gentian bush blooms from spring through to autumn, so you will enjoy seeing it in bloom while you’re holidaying at the four-star campsite Les Jardins de La Pascalinette® in the Var, South of France, even outside peak season.

Gentian flowers are purple-blue with a yellow heart and very delicate petals. If protected from frost, gentian is fairly resistant to cold and flowers every year. That is why it loves the campsite’s warm gardens so much!

In Latin, solanum means ” sunshine plants”. In South America, gentian is referred to as the “blue potato bush”.

Beware: all parts of plants belonging to the solanum family are toxic (berries, leaves, flowers).


Where to find it at the campsite
You’ll find gentian around the boules court (nr. 6 on the Décou’Verte® Botanical Footpath plan) and in Allée du Filon (nr. 17).

Identity

Latin name :Solanum rantonnetii
Family :solanaceae
Genus :solanum
Species :rantonetti
Color :Purple and white
Origin :Argentine Paraguay
Foliage :perennial
Port :shrub
Height :up to 2 m
Flowering :April to November
Gentian

Did you know?

Barthélémy Victor Rantonnet, a botanist from Hyères, studied this flower in depth. The solanum rantonnetii variety was named after him.