Bletilla

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Bletilla

  Family:

  Orchidaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Bulb

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Division

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Northern Indo-China to Temp. E. Asia

  Bulb Storage:

  Store corms in moist peat at 32-35 degrees F (0-2 degrees C)

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Bulb

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Medium

• 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

  Red/Burgundy

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Raceme

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Shape:

  Tubular

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  1-3 inches

  Flower Description:

  Produces small cattleya-like pink-purple blooms in racemes of up to 12 blooms. Blooms a 2 inches wide.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Linear

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Description:

  Produces 3-5 upright, pleated, sword-shaped leaves up to 12 inches long.

• Stem:

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Container

  Landscape Theme:

  Rock Garden

  Design Feature:

  Border