Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana
Sierra alpine gentian
Photo: parent species Gentiana newberryi · (c) Nina House, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana (Sierra alpine gentian) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by distinctive pale flowers with dark exterior markings.
Sierra alpine gentian is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in wet mountain meadows at elevations of 1,500 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers with dark brown-purple undersides and markings below the flower lobes. Growing with erect stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in alpine and subalpine habitats. Its leaves are arranged along the lower to middle portion of the stem, creating a delicate, clustered appearance. The plant's distinctive white to pale blue flowers with their dramatic brown-purple undersurfaces make it a striking component of high-elevation mountain meadow ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive pale flowers with dark exterior markings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet mountain meadows
Elevation: 1500-4000 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, Butte, Madera, Inyo, Tulare, Sierra, Nevada, Tehama, Plumas, Lassen, El Dorado, Mariposa, Shasta, Tuolumne
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Gentianopsis: Gentiana corolla lobes have folded pleats (plaits) in the sinuses between them and entire lobe margins; Gentianopsis (fringed gentian) lacks pleats and has conspicuously fringed lobe margins.; vs Gentianella: Gentiana has pleated sinuses between the lobes; Gentianella has no pleats, often a fringe of hairs in the throat, and generally smaller flowers.; vs Frasera: Gentiana has a tubular-funnel corolla of fused lobes with pleated sinuses; Frasera and Swertia have wheel-shaped, deeply divided corollas with nectary pits or glands on each lobe.; vs Zeltnera: Gentiana is a fleshy perennial with large blue funnel flowers and pleated sinuses; Zeltnera and Centaurium are slender annuals with pink flat-faced (salverform) flowers and no pleats.; vs Comastoma: Gentiana has pleated corolla sinuses; Comastoma is a tiny alpine annual with a fringe of scales in the corolla throat and no pleats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana native to California?
Yes. Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana bloom?
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana grow?
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana occurs in Fresno, Mono, Butte, Madera, Inyo, Tulare, Sierra, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1500-4000 m.
What plant family does Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana belong to?
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Gentiana.
What habitat does Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana grow in?
Gentiana newberryi var. tiogana grows in Wet mountain meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.