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Calochilus paludosus

red beard orchid

Orchidaceae

Southeastern Australia and New Zealand

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Calochilus paludosus is a deciduous terrestrial orchid that grows from an underground tuber, sending up a single flowering stem 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) tall in spring. A solitary fleshy leaf, channelled and 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long, emerges in autumn and often withers by flowering time. The stem carries two to ten flowers, each 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across, with greenish to reddish sepals and petals. The lower lip (labellum) is densely covered with long red to purplish hairs that form a conspicuous beard, the feature behind the common name. Flowering occurs in spring. After flowering the plant dies back to the tuber and stays dormant through summer. As a tuberous ground orchid dependent on specific soil fungi, it rarely survives transplanting and is seldom grown in gardens.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, and also recorded in New Zealand. Grows in heathland, swamp margins, and open forest in moist, sandy or peaty soils, often among low ground cover.

Suggested Uses

Grown only in specialist native-orchid collections and in undisturbed bushland and heath restoration sites. It has no role in conventional garden beds because of its fungal dependence and summer dormancy. The plant features in habitat conservation rather than ornamental planting.

How to Identify

Recognised by a single flowering stem to 20 inches (50 cm) bearing greenish to reddish flowers whose labellum is densely bearded with long red to purple hairs. The beard lacks the metallic basal plate seen in some related Calochilus spp. species. The solitary channelled leaf and spring flowering further aid identification.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 1'8"

Width/Spread2" - 4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowers in spring, mainly from September to November in its native range. Each plant flowers for 2-3 weeks, with individual flowers opening in succession up the stem. Flowering is more reliable in the season after a summer bushfire or soil disturbance, which can stimulate dormant tubers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish to reddish-brown

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in moist, free-draining sandy or peaty soil in full sun to light shade, in ground that is wet in winter and spring and dry in summer. The orchid relies on a symbiotic soil fungus for germination and nutrition, which makes it slow to establish away from its natural habitat. The tuber sits dormant through summer and resprouts after autumn rain. Disturbance of the root zone or loss of the fungal partner causes decline. The plant is seldom maintained in cultivation and persists mainly in undisturbed native ground.

Pruning

No pruning is carried out. The single leaf and flowering stem wither naturally after seed set, and the plant retreats to its tuber for the summer dormancy. Spent stems can be left to disperse seed. Removing the foliage early reduces the energy returned to the tuber.