Hardy Orchid Bletilla striata

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Hardy Orchid:

Bletilla

Phonetic Spelling

bleh-TIL-ah stry-AY-tah

Description

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.

Bletilla striata ghislainedarmor CC BY-ND 2.0

Bletilla striata - full plant close view Jim Lawrence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Attributes:
Genus:

Bletilla

Species:

striata

Family:

Orchidaceae

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Division

Country Or Region Of Origin:

China to Central & S. Japan

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Ground Cover

Perennial

Habit/Form:

Erect

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, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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.

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.