Bletilla Plant
Profile
Bletilla (Bletilla striata) is also known as Chinese
ground orchid, Urn orchid, or Hyacinth orchid. This beautiful perennial plant
is known for its pink, purple, or white flowers that resemble a Cattleya
orchid. It is in fact a hardy terrestrial orchid.
It stays in bloom for several weeks in the
garden and makes a great cut-flower. This is an easy-to-grow and
low-maintenance plant. When not in bloom, the plant has elegant
tall, accordion-pleated foliage to admire.
Bletilla prefers to be planted in
well-draining soils amended with composted material. Give it a top dressing of
shredded leaves in spring and fall. It likes consistent moisture but not to sit
in wet ground. It does well in part shade out of the harsh afternoon sun.
It is hardy to USDA zones 5-8 and it is
reported to be deer-resistant.
Bletilla forms clumps over time that can be
divided and moved around the garden. Plant them shallowly (about one to three
inches in depth). It is best to buy mature plants. If you purchase them from
bare-root pseudobulbs, note that a new planting can take two to five years to
bloom.
Bletilla: You Can
Grow That!
The
video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant
Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.
Video, audio, and text by Kathy Jentz
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