Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Chinese Ground Orchid

Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym: Bletilla hyacinthina

Distribution: China, Japan

Hardiness: 5a

Life form: Perennial plant

Comments: Your friends will be very impressed when you tell them you have this Asian terrestrial orchid in your garden. But just so you know, the Chinese ground orchid is super easy to grow in the shade! It’s winter hardy in Oklahoma and returns each spring to send up delicate looking Cattleya-like flowers by early summer. Straight species of this orchid have vibrant hot pink to purple flowers. The lance shaped leaves have deeply textured pleats that will provide interest the rest of the season. This perennial spreads slowly and stays in neat clumps.