Bletilla striata

Bletilla striata Details

Bletilla striata, commonly known as the Chinese Ground Orchid, is an herbaceous perennial grown for its pretty, pink flowers which are orchid-like in appearance. The elegant blooms are borne as clusters off slender stems in spring. They are complemented with broad and lush, dark green leaves which provides for a wonderful colour contrast. It grows as a clump to about 25 cm tall and 50 cm wide, performing best when grown in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of dry periods, frost, and cool climates. However, it may die back during the cooler months to regrow again in spring. Bletilla striata is commonly added to mixed plantings, planted around the base of trees, maintained in a container, used in cottage gardens, planted alongside a water feature, or mass planted for a stunning display.