Botanical Name:
Bletilla striata
Life Cycle:
perennial rhizome
Planting Time:
winter through spring
Height:
12"
Exposure:
full sun to semi-shade
Soil:
rich, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
zones 6-10
Bloom Time:
spring
Flower:
a variety of colors including clusters of white, pink or purple; bell-shaped and fragrant
Foliage:
green, long and narrow with lengthwise pleats
Propagation:
rhizomes
Suggested Use:
beds, borders, cut flowers and decorative container plants
Growing Hints:
Plant rhizomes 4 inches deep and space them about 6 inches apart. Apply a liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks during growing period, and after flowering let them die back naturally. In the fall,
zones 6 and north can leave bulbs in the ground. Cooler
zones need to bring bulbs in and store them over winter. Plants can be propagated in the fall or spring by dividing clumps of pseudo-bulbs.
Interesting Facts:
Chinese ground orchids are native to China, Japan, and Taiwan.
February 16, 20060 found this helpful
Hardiness...means the zones where you can grow the perennial year round OUTSIDE in your garden. This plant is only hardy to zone 6. In lower zones 0 - 5 it will not survive the winter outside so then you need to bring the rhizomes inside for the winter to store with your cannas, callas, begonias, gladiolas, etc.
