Autumn Lady's Tresses Spiranthes spiralis
Previously known as:
- Spiranthes sinensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-RAN-theez spir-AH-liss
- Description
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Autumn Lady's Tresses is a small orchid that grows in grassy open meadows in Europe, Africa and Asia. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial that goes dormant in June or July. In late summer a flowering stalk appears with small white flowers spiraling around it. 1 or 2 rosettes of leaves follow shortly after and live through the winter and spring.
The tubers can take several years before producing above-ground leaves and another 3 years before blooming. It may only bloom every 2-3 years and if conditions are unfavorable may produce no above-ground parts at all.
This plant generally is found in unfertile grasslands in arid rocky areas and prefers fulls sun. It is considered threatened in some areas of its native habitat.
This is not a plant you are likely to find for sale or would use in a garden.
- 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
- Species:
- spiralis
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, north Africa, western Asia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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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:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- 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:
- Oval capsules with many small seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Urn
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Hooded flowers appear in late summer and spiral around a 4-6 inch stem. Each .25 inch flower is white with a green spot on the lower lip and a frilly edge.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are in a rosette of four to five pointed, sessile, ovate leaves 1-1.5 inches long and .5 inch wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Grayish green stem with short transparent glandular hairs on the upper parts.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
