Caladenia picta
painted fingers
Overview
Caladenia picta is a small terrestrial orchid that grows from an underground tuber and produces a single narrow, hairy leaf 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long at the base. A slender stem 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) tall carries one or two flowers, each 0.8-1.5 inches (20-40 mm) across, with narrow spreading sepals and petals in white to pale pink marked with red stripes, giving the painted fingers name. The labellum is fringed and tipped with red, with rows of small calli down the centre. It flowers in autumn and early winter, earlier than many related spider orchids, then dies back to its tuber through the warmer months. It grows in sandy and well-drained soils of coastal heath, scrub, and open woodland in south-eastern Australia. Like other terrestrial orchids it depends on soil mycorrhizal fungi and is pollinated by small native insects drawn to the flowers. The single leaf and one or two ground-level flowers make it hard to find when not in bloom. Tubers increase slowly, and the species is sensitive to clearing and grazing, so populations are slow to recover once lost.
Native Range
Caladenia picta is native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It grows in sandy, free-draining soils of coastal heath, scrub, and open woodland.Suggested Uses
Caladenia picta is grown by specialist native-orchid collectors in deep pots and is part of the ground flora in restored heath and sandy woodland. It suits undisturbed native ground where the summer-dormant tuber is left dry and unworked.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 10"
Width/Spread2" - 4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pink with red stripesFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Caladenia picta grows from a tuber that needs a dry, warm dormancy after the leaf dies back in late spring. It grows in a sandy, free-draining mix kept moist through the autumn-to-winter growing season and left dry during summer dormancy. Like other terrestrial orchids it relies on soil mycorrhizal fungi, which makes it hard to grow away from its natural setting. In specialist collections it is grown in deep pots that hold the tuber and drain freely. It grows in full sun to light shade and withstands light frost in USDA zones 9-10. Tubers rot if the mix stays wet during dormancy.Pruning
Pruning does not apply to this terrestrial orchid. The spent flower stem can be removed after seed has shed, and the single leaf is left to die back so the tuber can recharge for the next season.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons