Chinese ground orchid
Bletilla striata
Looking for an exotic addition to your garden without the high maintenance? Say hello to the Chinese ground orchid! This little gem is a game-changer for those of us who dream of growing beautiful orchids in our own backyards but don’t have mild winters.
Type: Pseudobulb
Blooms: Small, orchidlike pink-purple flowers from mid- to late spring
Light: Part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Pests: None serious
Size: 12 to 18 in. tall, 6 to 12 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9
Plant Source: Plant Delights Nursery, 919-772-4794
Chinese ground orchid creates carpet of color
Plants grow from pseudobulbs, which are above-ground organs that store nutrients for overwintering. Each pseudobulb produces three to five sword-shaped, pale green leaves that last until frost. Pink-purple orchid-like blooms are 1½ inches long. Every stem has 12 blooms that flower from mid- to late spring followed by green seedheads that age to brown as they mature. With its easy-going nature and resilience in cooler climates, it’s sure to become your new garden favorite.
Grow Chinese ground orchid in clusters or drifts under a canopy of trees or along the edge of a border, where you can enjoy its flowers up close. In the right growing conditions, plants will naturalize over time, spreading by underground rhizomes and seeds to create a carpet of color from mid- to late spring.
Tips for growing Chinese ground orchid
In early spring, after danger of frost has passed, plant bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost at planting time and avoid fertilizing for at least the first year or two. If you have enough plants to divide, you can do so in fall by carefully digging up the pseudobulbs and separating them into sections before replanting divisions at the same depth as the original plant.
Winter protection
In zone 5, protect plants with a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch or straw before the first frost to ensure the plant survives the winter. In colder zones you can treat it like other tender bulbs and overwinter it indoors in a cool, dark place until the following spring.
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