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Spiranthes × stellata

starry Ladies'-tresses

Orchidaceae North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Spiranthes x stellata is a naturally occurring hybrid terrestrial orchid in the ladies'-tresses group, formed where its parent Spiranthes spp. species grow together. It is a small perennial 6–14 inches (15–35 cm) tall, growing from fleshy tuberous roots, with a basal rosette of narrow grass-like leaves. A single slender flowering spike rises in autumn, carrying small white flowers arranged in a spiral around the stem. Each flower is about 0.25–0.4 inch (6–10 mm) long, tubular, with a frilled lower lip. Bloom comes in late summer to autumn, from August to October. The flowers carry a faint fragrance and are pollinated by bees. As a terrestrial orchid it depends on soil fungi to grow, which makes it difficult to transplant or cultivate away from its native ground. It grows in moist, open habitats such as wet meadows, fens, and streamsides. Plants may stay dormant below ground for a season in dry years.

Native Range

Spiranthes x stellata occurs in North America where the ranges of its parent ladies'-tresses orchids overlap. It is found in moist, open ground including wet meadows, fens, seeps, and streambanks.

Suggested Uses

Used in bog gardens, wet meadow restorations, and native plantings on damp ground. The autumn flowers draw bees late in the season. Plants are spaced 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) apart in suitable moist sites.

How to Identify

Identify by the single slender spike 6–14 inches (15–35 cm) tall carrying small white flowers in a spiral arrangement. Each flower is 0.25–0.4 inch (6–10 mm) long, tubular, with a frilled lower lip. Narrow grass-like leaves form a basal rosette below the spike.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'2"

Width/Spread3" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs in late summer to autumn, from August to October. The small white flowers open in sequence up the spiral spike over two to three weeks. A light fragrance draws bees, the main pollinators.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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 silt

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade in consistently moist to wet, low-nutrient soil, tolerating a soil pH from 5.5 to 7.0. Water needs are medium to high, as the plant grows in damp ground that does not dry out. Hardy in USDA zones 4–8, it dies back to underground roots over winter. As a terrestrial orchid it relies on a partnership with soil fungi, so it rarely survives transplanting or standard cultivation. Plants may skip a season and remain dormant below ground in dry years. Disturbance and drainage of wet sites are the main causes of decline.

Pruning

Spent flower spikes are left in place to allow seed to ripen and scatter, or removed once seed has dispersed. The plant needs no other pruning. Surrounding vegetation is kept low so the small spikes are not crowded out.