Closed Bottle Gentian has clusters of deep blue, bottle-shaped flowers that remain closed at the tips. The unusual flowers bloom from late summer into fall, when many other woodland and meadow plants are finishing. The flowers can be difficult to appreciate because they do not open normally—their closed form is a characteristic feature, not a sign that the plant has failed to bloom. It requires reliable moisture, particularly during establishment. Avoid disturbing established plants unnecessarily. It does best in rich, organic soil. It may take a little patience to establish, but is a long-lived perennial once settled. Closed bottle gentian is particularly valuable in a garden because it provides colour relatively late in the growing season.