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Image shows exquisite blossoms of Bletilla striata 'Innocence' or
Chinese Ground Orchid
Pleated leaves of Bletilla striata 'Innocence'
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Bletilla striata
'Innocence'
(Chinese Ground Orchid) |
Family: Orchidaceae
Light: Sun-light shade
Height: 1.5-2'
Spread: About 2'
Blooms: Racemes of 6 or more, each 1-2"across, snow-white with slight
lavender blush on the inside, long-lasting, large, exotic, borne on 8"-1'
long stems, from Spring-Summer
Foliage: 3" wide, evergreen, veined, paper-thin, pleated
Soil: Well-drained, rich, loamy soil with added leaf mold/peat, keep
moist when growing, dry when dormant
Water: Very high moisture needs
Fertilizer: In Spring, every week till after bloosm with 15-30-15
fertlizer; after flowering till late Fall, fertilize with well-balanced
fertilizer every month
Propagation: Division (early Spring)
Uses: For container, bedding, mass planting, borders, cut
flowers
Comments: Bletilla striata 'Innocence' or
Chinese Ground Orchid is a showy
deciduous
orchid plant with a mounding habit. This hardy
terrestrial orchid can tolerate a minimum temperature of as low as 10
degreesF. Bletilla striata 'Innocence' is easy to grow in the sun to light
shade garden and it naturalizes well. Provide plants with enough water during growing season.
Chinese Ground Orchid blooms better when they are crowded. The showy exotic-looking white flowers of the
Bletilla striata 'Innocence'are are long-lasting and are excellent for cut flower
arrangements or for corsages. Grow
them en masse for a dramatic effect in the shady perennial border or
perennial bedding
or grow them in containers to accent
the patio or deck. There are several other cultivars of Bletilla striata.
USDA Hardiness Zones : 5-8 |
