Bletilla striata

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Bletilla striata - know as the "Hardy Chinese Orchid" is a native orchid of Arkansas and was in bloom last spring at my friend Olin's house up in the mountains of NW Arkansas.

"Bletilla striata can be grown in temperate gardens as easily as daffodils or tulips. They emerge in spring with pretty pleated foliage and up to a dozen brightly colored flowers about two inches across. The foliage remains green and attractive until frost. They should be planted in well drained soil and no special care is needed beyond what would be given any other perennial. In the fall it would be good to toss leaves or straw on top of them, which should be left on till all danger of frost is past, to prevent the buds from emerging too early in the spring. They may be dug and divided fi they become too dense, the branching corms separated by cutting or breaking in two. If separated the pieces should be allowed to dry for a couple of days, then they may be replanted, or stored in a refrigerator until spring. They may also be grown in post and brought into bloom in the home." - Olin Karnch

Olin has been cultivating this particular orchid and this year brought seeds to our orchid society meeting. So, I will be planting the seeds to see if I can get it to grow. I snapped these photos last year, but never had time to put the up on the forum. Now that I am going to grow them from seed, I thought I should post a photo or four....

So, here they are:








I have seeds for both colors pictured here. Enjoy!

Cheers,
BD

[Molly Taco]

They look a lot like our ground orchids (splathoglottis plicata) Same leaves. Mine have just set spikes but the blooms are not a pendulas as yours.
They are so pretty and a lovely harkening to spring !!!
Cin

[Mahon]

Looks very nice! Both the typical and the albino form! Mine were growing outside, but recently were dug up by armadillos...

-Pat

[orchid-man]

they are really good and hardy.We grow then here in New Zealand as well,in our gardens and they multiply very freely.My niebour has had them in her flower garden for about 10 years.They do not need any looking after.

[sunset]

Thank you BD. I have BS in my garden. They just emerge now !

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I am so looking forward to growing them myself, Philippe. I will be sure to post updates if they grow for me.

Cheers,
BD

[Todd_Boland]

It is easy to grow indoors as well. I tried one outside but our winters are too brutal. Indoors, I just leaves it relatively dry and cool in the basement all winter then repot and water in March...blooms in May then I put it outside for the summer and let it die back naturally in the fall. Can't get any easier than that!

[Piper]

Good luck with the seeds, Bruce! That's very exciting. Thanks for digging up the photos, too!

McJulie