Ladies Tresses Spiranthes cernua
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-RAN-theez SER-new-a
- Description
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Spiranthes cernua, or Nodding Ladies Tresses, is a herbaceous, perennial wildflower in the orchid family, often found in swamps, meadows, wet roadsides and bogs. It is native to the eastern United States and features small, very fragrant, hooded, white flowers densely arranged in vertical, slightly spiral-like rows on spikes typically growing 9 to 18 inches tall. The blooms appear in late summer to fall, often to first frost. The spiraling flower arrangement is the result of uneven cell growth, which results in a twisting of the flower stems. It is synonymous with and often listed and sold as Spiranthes cerna var. odorata, although the S. odorata has slightly larger flowers. This is one of the few orchids that have a fragrance.
The plant is best grown in moist, boggy, acidic soils in part shade. This is a classic bog plant. Nodding Ladies Tresses spread slowly by rhizomes to form colonies under optimum growing conditions.
Each flower is about 1/3 of an inch long, consisting of 3 white sepals and 3 white petals. The upper sepal and upper two petals are fused together and form a curved hood that curls upward at its tip, forming a small upper lip with 3 lobes. The lower petal has a prominent lip that hangs downward and has a crystalline appearance, while the lateral sepals are linear and non-spreading. Together, these sepals and petals form a tubular-shaped flower that nods downward. This orchid can reproduce from the seeds of the flowers, or it may form offsets from rhizomes. Normal growth and development won't occur unless the root system forms an endomycorrhizal association with the appropriate species of fungus. Starting plants from seed is quite difficult; on the other hand, this orchid is easier to transplant than most others.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Spiranthes
- Species:
- cernua
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to Texas and Florida
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fertilized flowers are replaced by pods containing the tiny seeds, which are easily carried aloft by the wind. These pods may be capable of photosynthesis while they are green.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, white, fragrant, slightly downward-curved, double lipped flowers in a double spiral on 8 to 18 inch stem that bloom in September and October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Three to four slender 12 inch leaves. Lance-shaped, linear leaves in basal rosettes, with some leaves extending up the flower spikes. The leaves have smooth margins and usually wither away before the flowers bloom. On robust specimens, there may be 1 or 2 small leaves on the lower flowering stalk.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stalk has 6 to12 flowers occurring on the upper half. Flowers are densely arranged in vertical, slightly spiral-like rows on spikes typically growing 9 to 18 inches tall (sometimes 24 inches).
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil