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Pterostylis curta

blunt greenhood

Orchidaceae Eastern and southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Pterostylis curta is a deciduous terrestrial orchid in the Orchidaceae family growing 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall from an underground tuber, forming colonies in shaded leaf litter. Each plant produces a basal rosette of 4-7 oval leaves 0.8-2.4 inches (2-6 cm) long. A single green and translucent-white hooded flower 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) long rises on the stem in winter and spring; the hood (galea) is formed from fused sepals and petals, and the brown-tipped labellum inside is twisted to one side. The flower traps small insects briefly to achieve pollination. After flowering, the plant dies down to the tuber and stays dormant through the dry summer, producing a new tuber each year. Growth depends on a symbiotic soil fungus, which makes the species difficult to transplant or grow outside established colonies.

Native Range

Native to eastern and southeastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania and South Australia, with records in New Zealand. Grows in moist, shaded forest and woodland in leaf litter and humus-rich soil.

Suggested Uses

Grown in shaded native orchid collections, terrestrial orchid pots, and woodland gardens with undisturbed leaf litter. Naturalizes into colonies where soil and shade suit it. The summer-dormant habit leaves bare ground for several months, which limits its use as continuous groundcover.

How to Identify

Recognized by a flat basal rosette of oval leaves and a single green and white hooded flower with a labellum twisted to one side, which gives the blunt greenhood its name. The galea, or hood, is held more or less erect, separating it from related greenhoods with forward-pointing hoods. Plants appear in colonies in shaded litter during winter and spring.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'

Width/Spread4" - 8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowers in winter and spring, roughly June to October in its native range. Each flower lasts 2-4 weeks, and a colony stays in bloom over several weeks. The plant is visible only during the cooler months and dies down by early summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 3 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

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil under trees, in mild frost-free to lightly frosted climates. Water through autumn, winter, and spring while the plant is in leaf, then reduce water as it dies down for summer dormancy. The tuber rests through the dry season and reshoots in autumn. Growth relies on a symbiotic soil fungus, so plants resent disturbance and are hard to establish from bare tubers. Slugs and snails feed on the rosettes and flowers in wet weather.

Pruning

No pruning is needed, as the plant dies down naturally to the tuber after flowering. Spent flower stems can be removed once they yellow. Leaving the leaf litter in place protects the dormant tubers and the soil fungus.

Pruning Schedule

late spring