Willow gentian "Pink Swallow"

* Pink Willow Gentian is a fairly tall plant, widespread in central and southern Europe. Although it loves lime, it can grow well in moderately acidic soils, and its late flowering (August-September) makes it a welcome guest in gardens.
It is found in many mountainous habitats of central and southern Europe, rising to an altitude of 2200 m, preferring moist places with calcareous soil. In the garden, it feels best in a rock garden or rock garden, on peat ridges, along the border of shrubs or in an area for wild species.
The wetter the soil, the more intense sun it can tolerate.
Its flowers do not open until 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning, and around 5-6 o'clock in the evening they are already closed.
In nature, gentians are found in association with ferns, white yarrow, yellow wolfsbane (monkshood) and salsify. A similar plant community can be reproduced in the garden.
However, there are other species suitable for this purpose, despite the fact that their flowering time does not coincide, these are (Astrantia carniolica), (Doronicum austriacum), (Geranium sylvaticum), (Lilium martagon), (Thalictrum aquilegifolium) and Trollius species. They all prefer moist soil.
Such tall plants naturally require a fairly large rock garden. If you grow them in light shade, they require less moisture. If conditions prove too dry for the gentian, its weak leaves will soon wither.
This lovely late flowering plant can be grown surrounded by various sedges such as (Carex ornithopoda "Variegata"), (Carex morrowii "Variegata"), (Carex plantaginea), (Carex siderostica), grown in green and variegated form and a new dwarf species sedge Carex conica "Hime-Kan-suge", introduced in Japan.
Some low-growing, slow-growing forms of hosta can also be used as partners, and late-blooming varieties can be used to create harmonious color arrangements.
Gentiana asclepiadea is an easy to cultivate perennial that will add interest to your flower beds once it is well established. It exhibits greater growth vigor than other plants and makes a lasting impression.

Germination: the sowing must be kept warm (about +18 to +22°C) and moist for the first 2-4 weeks. After this period the sowing must be kept at a cold temperature (between -4 and +4°C) for another 4-6 weeks. It is not so important if the temperature is higher or lower during the cooling period, but the cooling period has to be prolonged because the synthesis of the germination inducer, hormonlike acid, slows down or comes to a standstill. It is beneficial to cover the sowing with snow during the cooling-period. The temperature below it usually keeps in the optimum range of -4 to 0°C. The sowing is kept moist, and the melting snow helps to destroy the shell, which is advantageous for the germinating seedling. After this cooling-period the sowing may not be immediately exposed to high temperatures. The most effective temperatures are between +5 to 12°C, even if germination has started. The best location for this sowing, even in March, April and May, is the open field, the cold frame or a cold greenhouse.
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Fertilization: medium.