Hardy Orchid Bletilla striata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hardy Orchid:
- Phonetic Spelling
- bleh-TIL-ah stry-AY-tah
- Description
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This plant is a great addition to a partial shade area of the garden with moderate moisture and substantial organic matter in the soil. Therefore, it likes moist (specifically medium moisture), rich (organically enriched) soil that is well-drained. Its beautiful, fan-like pleated leaves are showy in the spring through the summer. In addition, this plant produces orchid-like, downward-facing purple flowers.
This plant may not be reliably winter hardy through very cold winters. These flowers are produced from corm-like pseudobulbs which serve as a nutrient storage for overwintering, and therefore perennialize well. This plant makes a good container plant for zones north of USDA Zone 5. For propagation, division can be done in the fall.
Its size can be from 1-1.5 ft and spreads 0.5 to 1 feet with a height of 8-12 inches.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bletilla
- Species:
- striata
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Central & S. Japan
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- This plant has small, cattleya orchid-like purplish-pink (or deep rose or white) flowers on raceme in spring. This plant produces orchid-like, downward-facing purple flowers. Its sprays of orchid-like flowers add special appeal.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has 3-5 pale green, swordlike leaves with shallow pleats produced from pseudobulb. Beautiful, fan-like, pleated leaves are showy.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
