Scientific Name:
Bletilla striata
Pronunciation:
bleh-TIL-uh stree-AH-tuh
Common Name:
hardy orchid, Chinese ground orchid
Family Name:
Orchidaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Stems 3-5 arising from short, corm-like rhizomes; leaves 4-6 per stem, alternate, sheathing, blades pleated, papery-textured, lanceolate-elliptic to narrowly oblong, most 20-50cm long x 2-5cm wide, pale green; florets pinkish-purplish to 4cm long, 5 tepals plus lip (modified lower petal), usually between 3-7 on racemes up to 45cm tall; capsules 3-4cm long, ribbed lengthwise.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Perennial border, Summer interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus may include
B. 'Alba',
B. 'Blue Dragon',
B. 'Kuchibeni', and
B. 'Shi-Ran'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Elliptic, Lanceolate, Oblong
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Violet, Purple, Pink, Magenta
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Five tepals plus a modified petal in centre
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Dark-red, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (ONE) Overpass North side East
- (ONW) Overpass North side West : cvs. Blue Dragon, Kuchibeni, Shi-ran, Alba