Spiranthes
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aristotelea
- Gyrostachis
- Tussacia
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-RAN-theez
- Description
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Ladies Tresses is in a perennial herb in the orchid family that grows from a thick tuberous root system. The genus is found in the Americas, Europe and Australia in fields, damp meadows, moist thickets, and grassy swamps. Flowers come in a variety of colors and spirals up a terminal spike.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in acidic wet clay, sand or loam soils. It will spread by rhizomes in good conditions. Use along ponds, streams, bogs and in water gardens.
- 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:
- Spiranthes
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Teas were made and used as a diuretic
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia to SW. Pacific, N. Africa, N. & Central America
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are arranged in a loose or dense spiral around a 6-inch terminal spike. They are orchid-like with 6 petals and 1/2 inch across. They come in multiple colors. Blooms July through Nov.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 8-10 inch long basal grass-like leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
