There are many gentians that would be classified as herbaceous perennials, with tall stems and whorls or pairs of flowers, usually trumpet- or bell-shaped. Often these are characteristically gentian blue, but in other cases they can be yellow, purple or white.

Gentiana cruciata SDR6406 is a European native, which has fairly short, upright stems arising from a cluster of basal leaves. Along the stem are several whorls of the typically gentian blue flowers, trumpet-shaped, each one not large, but together giving a good impression of the brilliant blue colour.