The autumn-flowering gentians are wonderful plants, bringing colour - and very intense colour at that - to the garden at a time when there is not a great deal flowering. Most have trailing stems, each terminated with a large, trumpet shaped flower. They can be split in April, and a good patch can soon be established. Most dislike alkaline soil.

Gentiana sino-ornata 'Downfield' is one of Ian Christie's hybrids, with trumpet flowers that are somewhat lighter blue than many other varieties.