Bletilla striata is
garden hardy. I was surprised at first but some orchids can grow in the ground, and quite well at that. The survival
of the Chinese Ground Orchid is much better with well drained soil. Bletilla
striata can handle a moderate amount of
summer water and fairly heavy soils. Winter in our area is unlikely to be a problem, Bletilla
striata is hardy to well below zero. Bletilla striata produces
beautiful purple flowers in the early spring for about 6 weeks. This clump will
have upwards of 50 blooms open at any time during that period. Bletilla
striata is about a foot
tall. I have seen Bletilla striata growing in the sun but the
foliage always seems to look pale and burnt. My most successful plantings
of the Chinese Ground Orchid have been in an area that was protected from
the mid-day sun. There is a white variety of this plant, Bletilla
striata alba.
High resolution images of
Bletilla striata are available.
