Orchid of the Day: Bletilla striata
Nicknamed the Hardy Chinese Orchid, Bletilla striata is a terrestrial that grows in soil. Originally from China, Japan, and Korea, Bletillas go dormant over the winter, and can handle light freezes. These flowers have been slowly opening over the past few days. They’re still not completely open in these photos, but you can see their light purple color and the ruffly ridges on the flower lip. Variegated forms of this flower are grown as bonsai in Japan.
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May 8th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I have those in my garden, but we call them chinese ground orchids.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Nice flowers
May 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Another name is Hyacinth Orchid
April 13th, 2009 at 10:55 am
[…] I’ll start with some orchids that are right on their spring schedules: a great purple Epidendrum and a pink & purple Bletilla. […]