Overview
Spiranthes vernalis is a slender terrestrial orchid native to moist meadows, prairies, and open ground across the eastern and southern United States. It grows from fleshy, tuberous roots, sending up a single erect flowering stem 8-30 inches (20-75 cm) tall above a basal cluster of narrow, grass-like leaves 2-10 inches (5-25 cm) long that often wither by flowering time. The small white to cream flowers, each about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) long, are arranged in a single tightly twisted spiral up the spike, with narrow pointed bracts and a downy, often orange-centered lip. Blooming from late spring into summer, the spiral of tubular flowers draws long-tongued bees. Like most terrestrial orchids it depends on soil fungi for germination and establishment, which makes it difficult to transplant or raise from seed and short-lived when moved. Populations appear and vanish with site moisture and disturbance. In cultivation it is grown mainly in native, prairie, and bog-edge plantings and seldom persists in ordinary garden beds.
Native Range
Native to the eastern and southern United States, from New England and the Great Lakes south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. It grows in moist to seasonally wet meadows, prairies, roadsides, and open disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used in native-plant, prairie, meadow, and bog-edge plantings and in restoration of moist grasslands. It suits naturalistic settings rather than tended borders, where it rarely persists.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'6"
Width/Spread3" - 6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to creamFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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