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Butterfly Orchid Platanthera

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Butterfly Orchid:

Phonetic Spelling
pla-TAN-ther-uh
Description

Plants in this genus of wildflowers belong to the orchid family and are known as Butterfly Orchids or Fringed Orchids. There are about 100 species with 37 being native to North America. They grow in a wide range of soil types and habitats with most requiring moderate moisture. The flowers are generally borne singly in various colors and can be sparse to dense and showy. In NC, P. psycodes is a small purple Fringed Orchid native to the mountains and is 1 of 16 native to our state. However, many are threatened or rare.

Depending on the variety, they could be used in wetland or woodland sites.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#NC native#orchid#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wetland margins#wildflower#wetland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#NC native#orchid#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wetland margins#wildflower#wetland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Platanthera
    Family:
    Orchidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are orchid in shape and can have fringed lower lips or not. Some have long spurs. Various colors.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Lower leaves are lance-shaped, smaller upper leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    1 to 2 foot stem
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden