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Horse Gentian
Horse Gentian botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Horse Gentian

Frasera speciosa
In the United States: Native · also called feverwort, wild coffee, perfoliate horse-gentian

Honeybees occasionally visit horse gentian for small amounts of nectar from its tubular flowers, though it primarily attracts long-tongued native bees like bumblebees. Peak bloom aligns with late spring to early summer, offering a short foraging period in woodland settings. It tolerates partial shade well and shows some resistance to deer browsing, requiring minimal maintenance in suitable habitats.

Nectarlow
Pollenlow
Bloom (US) May–July
Duration~2 months
TypePerennial
Sunpartial
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