Bottle Gentian has bottle-like deep blue flowers that never actually open. The unusual blooms are pollinated exclusively by bumblebees, which have the size and strength needed to pry open the flowers and gain entry. Slow-growing but long-lived, this unique native requires little care once established. 
The tubular Flowers, 1 to 1½ inches long, have a pleated appearance and a small fringe around the tip. On a mature plant the flowers look like a large cluster of buds sitting atop the main stem on a whorl of leaves. They are typically blue to purplish, but can vary widely, occasionally having pink, or even white blooms. The main stem is thick and smooth, light green or purplish. The glossy dark green leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem, becoming larger as they progress up the stem.  Bottle Gentian may lean over in full bloom, but the flower cluster stays upright.