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Native Plant Society of Texas

Small Bluebell

Eustoma exaltatum

Other common name(s):

Catchfly Prairie Gentian, Bluebell Gentian, Western Blue Gentian, Blue Marsh Lily, Catchfly Gentian, Seaside Gentian

Family:

Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
2
ft.

Spread

.75
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Moist, Saline, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Grassland, Riparian, Wetland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Easy to maintain. Very heat tolerant. Texas Bluebell prefers damp conditions, but need good drainage to prevent root rot. Although it is often referred to as the Seaside Gentian, it is not restricted to coastal habitats; it also grows in the Great Plains. This plant develops a long taproot to access moisture from deep within the soil. Texas Bluebells are perfect for the edges of water or rain gardens, in ornamental beds, or borders. Native habitat: sandy coastal areas, streams, moist places in prairies and fields, saline to freshwater marshes.

Description

Blooms March-November. Grows as short-lived perennial or annual depending on growing conditions. The plants are 1-3 feet high with smooth, erect stems and branches. The leaves are long and oval with pointed tips. Texas Bluebells have large, bell-shaped flowers, with bluish-purple petals, which are constricted into a small tube at the base. The throat has prominent purple markings. The fruit is a capsule.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 352. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php? 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Eustoma+exaltatum&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=12231&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=30053#null, 7) https://thewoodlandstownshipblog-environment.com/2019/06/03/beat-the-heat-with-bluebells/#:~:text=As%20a%20native%20plant%2C%20the,enjoy%20the%20nectar%20and%20pollen. 8) https://thewoodlandstownshipblog-environment.com/2019/06/03/beat-the-heat-with-bluebells/#:~:text=As%20a%20native%20plant%2C%20the,enjoy%20the%20nectar%20and%20pollen, 9) https://seedsource.com/texas-bluebells/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Stage 1 (10-12 days): Maintain soil temperature at 20 to 22˚C. Keep media evenly moist but not saturated. Do not cover or bury the seed. Light is required for germination. Stage 2 (14-21 days): Maintain soil temperature at 20 to 22°C. Reduce moisture levels once radicals emerge. Allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering to control algae growth. Irrigate early in the day so foliage is dry by nightfall. Stage 3 (28-35 days): Maintain soil temperature at 18 to 20°C. Allow media to dry thoroughly between irrigations. Avoid extreme wilting, which can induce rosetting. Stage 4 (7 days): Maintain soil temperature at 17 to 18°C. Allow media to dry thoroughly between irrigations. Avoid permanent wilting, which can induce rosetting. Do not hold the plugs until rootbound as this induces rosetting. Transplant should be when the seedlings reach a height of 5 cm. Seedling grows very slowly, 4 leaves will develop in about 2 months. It blooms about 5 months after sowing. Collect seed in June, when seeds inside capsule are black. Eustoma exaltatum are usually grown from seed, which should be sown in early spring. Seeds should be planted in a moist mixture of moss and peat. 1) https://travaldo.blogspot.com/2021/05/eustoma-exaltatum-seaside-gentian-care-and-culture.html 2) https://earthone.io/plant/eustoma%20exaltatum?srsltid=AfmBOorMKnualL8J_GzvaCNouptqDtRoddH9fYYabUNKHmk_MHdzZ35q 3) https://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=6237&frontpage=true
Stem Cutting For cuttings, take a healthy stem cutting, dip it in rooting hormone, and plant it in a moist, well-draining medium. https://earthone.io/plant/eustoma%20exaltatum?srsltid=AfmBOorMKnualL8J_GzvaCNouptqDtRoddH9fYYabUNKHmk_MHdzZ35q

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason