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Gentianaceae
Monument Plant
Frasera speciosa
Patience and magnificence.
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Genus
- Frasera
- Native to
- Western United States, Rocky Mountains
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 3-7 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, rocky, dry
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 4-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Monument plant lives for 20–80 years as a low rosette before sending up a towering 7-foot flowering spike — then it dies.
- It is a monocarpic perennial: the plant reproduces only once, producing thousands of seeds before dying.
- In a remarkable phenomenon, entire mountain meadows of monument plant will synchronize to bloom in the same year.
- The white flowers are intricately spotted and fringed, with nectar glands that attract specialist bees and flies.
- It is related to gentians and shares the family's characteristic bitter compounds once used medicinally.
Color meanings
0
patience
1
magnificence
2
rare achievement