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Microtis parviflora

slender onion-orchid

Orchidaceae

Australia, New Zealand, and eastern Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Microtis parviflora is a terrestrial orchid growing from a small underground tuber, producing a single erect, hollow, cylindrical leaf 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) long that resembles an onion leaf. A slender flowering stem rises 6-16 inches (15-40 cm), with the leaf sheathing its lower portion. The upper stem carries a narrow spike of 10 to 50 small green flowers, each about 0.08-0.12 inch (2-3 mm) across, with a broad, down-curved labellum. Flowers are crowded toward the tip and open from the bottom upward. The plant is dormant for much of the year, with the leaf emerging in autumn or winter and the flower spike following in late spring to summer; after seed set the above-ground parts wither and the tuber rests underground through dry months. Flowers are often self-pollinating, setting abundant dust-like seed. The green flowers are small and held against the stem, and the plant is hard to detect outside the flowering period.

Native Range

Native to Australia in the eastern and southern states and also Western Australia, with a range extending to New Zealand, New Caledonia, and parts of eastern Asia. Grows in open forest, grassland, heath, and disturbed roadsides in a range of soils, from sea level to montane elevations.

Suggested Uses

Occurs naturally in grassland and is most often encountered as a spontaneous plant in lawns, verges, and native grassy areas rather than as a cultivated species. It suits unmown or low-mown native grassland plantings where its summer flowering and dormancy match local rainfall. Container cultivation is difficult because of its dependence on soil fungi.

How to Identify

Identified by a single hollow, onion-like leaf that sheathes the base of the flowering stem. The spike carries numerous green flowers 0.08-0.12 inch (2-3 mm) wide, each with a broad labellum that curves downward. Separated from Microtis unifolia by smaller, more crowded flowers and a shorter labellum.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'4"

Width/Spread2" - 4"

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from late spring through summer, mainly October to January in southern Australia, with timing shifting earlier in warmer northern districts. Individual spikes remain in flower for about 2-4 weeks. Flowering is heavier in the season following fire or soil disturbance and may be sparse in shaded or undisturbed sites.

Detailed Descriptions

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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in well-drained soils in full sun to light shade and tolerates seasonally dry conditions through summer-autumn dormancy. Moisture during autumn and winter supports leaf growth, while drier conditions in summer suit the dormant tuber. As a tuberous terrestrial orchid dependent on soil fungi, it is rarely transplanted successfully and is seldom cultivated in gardens. Plants in lawns and verges persist under occasional mowing once flowering has finished. Soil disturbance over the dormant tuber can destroy the plant. Snails and slugs may graze emerging leaves in wet conditions.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flower stems and the withering leaf can be left to die back naturally as the plant enters dormancy, or removed once browned. Cutting or mowing before seed set reduces self-sown seedlings in following seasons.