Cream Gentian

Gentiana flavida

Blooms: early August - early October

The Cream Gentian is a native perennial plant that grows to about 1 to 2 feet tall. It is found fairly rarely in Illinois, due mostly to the fact that it is easily destroyed by encroaching human habitats. The Cream Gentian has a thick, hairless stem that opens into olive-colored leaves that form a basket in which its cream-colored flowers are held.

This plant is proof that hands-on management has been improving the quality of the natural areas in the Calumet region. It appeared at Powderhorn Forest Preserve three years after the second ridge was burned.