trefle.io · Taken May 15, 2019 by Marie-Claude Deboin (cc-by-sa)
Orchidaceae
Lesser butterfly-orchid
Platanthera bifolia
Also known as Habenaria bifolia, Small butterfly orchid, Gymnadenia bifolia, Sieberia bifolia
Native Plants · Orchid · Terrestrial Orchid · Wildflower · Rare · European Orchid · Meadow · Specialist · Pollinator · Chalk Grassland · Perennial
The lesser butterfly-orchid is a delicate terrestrial orchid that requires well-drained, nutrient-poor, calcareous soil and dappled light to thrive. It depends on specific mycorrhizal fungi in the soil and does not transplant easily, making it very challenging to grow outside its native habitat. Best appreciated in conservation meadows or specialist orchid gardens rather than typical home settings.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; reduce watering during dormancy · Every 5-7 days during growing season
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 8 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Chita, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, FøRoyar, Germany
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
More Platanthera
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Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata
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Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys
Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys
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