From late summer through fall, deep blue flowers top the 3-foot stems of blue rindo gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri). This native of Japan and northeast Asia grows best in full sun with moderate soil fertility. Plant this gentian in full sun and in well- drained, neutral-to-acidic soils and maintain a moist soil throughout the growing season.

An extract of the roots has been used medicinally in Japan for centuries. A Japanese scroll of Buddhist sutras (Heike Nokyo) created in 1164 C.E. features a number of stylized drawings of plants, including this species.