Hardy Orchid Bletilla striata

Chinese ground orchid is a terrestrial, perennial flowering bulb in the orchid family that grows to a height of 1 to 1 1/2 feet and spreads about 1 foot wide. It is native of the grassy slopes of central and southern Japan and the cool mountain slopes of China. This plant is a great addition to a partial shade area of the garden with moderate moisture and substantial organic matter in the soil. 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. The genus name honors Luis Blet, a Spanish apothecary who had a botanic garden in Algeciras, a city in the Cadiz region of Spain, towards the end of the 18th century. The specific epithet, striata, means striped.

The Chinese Ground Orchid requires damp, well-drained, often enriched, soil and prefers a sheltered site in light shade. It does not tolerate wet soils. This plant may not be reliably winter hardy through very cold winters. Apply a good organic mulch in the late autumn or lift the bulbs and store them dry in a frost free place for planting in spring, no more than 4 inches deep in the soil. The flowers are produced from corm-like pseudo-bulbs which serve as nutrient storage for overwintering. After flowering, continue to provide regular moisture to plants for the remainder of the growing season. This plant makes a good container plant for zones north of USDA Zone 5. For propagation, division can be done in the fall. Orchids, in general, are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid.

Diseases, Insect Pests, Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or pests. Slugs and snails are an occasional problem.