Ease to Grow: Moderate
Dormancy: Recommended
Native Range: Peat Bogs of Eastern and Central North America
Zones: 3-8 (2-10)

Nodding Lady Tresses, Spiranthes odorata, is a delightful fall blooming bog orchid with a spiral of white flowers on a tall stem. Each blossom "nods", or tips down slightly, giving it its name. Lips are wavy and tinted yellow. There can be 10 to 50+ flowers on a stalk, looking like small white stair cases winding up a castle turret. The flowers are fragrant and bloom from late summer until after the first frost. Leaves are long and lanceolate, usually 3-5 per plant. It is a bog plant which grows in open, acidic bogs with sphagnum moss, but is adaptable to drier, upland conditions, as long as the soil remains damp during flowering. It does best in wet conditions, and frequently sends out a stolon budding small plants. It is an adaptable and vigorous grower. Seeds are very fine and dust like, spread by the wind, producing volunteers readily throughout the collection or bog garden. It is winter hardy, and should be protected from rodents during dormancy. Mulch with 4+" of pine needles in the Fall. Leave at least a 1" of needles after spring cleanup. The rhizomes can be stored in damp sphagnum at 35°F (2°C) in a refrigerator for 3 or 4 months. Water with rain/distilled water, they are sensitive to mineral buildup. It spreads nicely and grows well among pitcher plants. It is an autumn treasure, and makes good cut flowers.

Our plants are not collected from the wild, and are propagated from root divisions of plants in our collection.

Seed Packs are fresh harvested in the Fall, and stored refrigerated. Seed count is approximate, but reliable. For bog orchids seed count is actually 100-250+ per pack, as these seeds are dust-like and too small to count.

Note: Stratification is required to prepare seeds for germination. All seeds are produced from open pollination within our collection. Some cross pollination among different cultivars may occur. Native orchid seeds require the presence of commensal fungus to properly germinate and grow. Growing carnivorous plants from seeds is best suited for the experienced and patient grower. See our webpage on Growing CPs from Seeds.

Height: 2" - 6"
Plant Type: Perennial, cold temperate
Soil: Bog Orchid Mix
Soil pH: 4-5
Light: Full to Partial Sun
Use: Grows best outdoors in the bog garden or pots

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