Bletilla striata

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Produces a fragrance like that of Osmanthus fragrans.

Probably even shares the same pollinator, idk.

[slipperfreak]

They bloom quite early in your neck of the woods! Very pretty.

[WhiteRabbit]

lovely! I really need to try these!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

They bloom quite early in your neck of the woods! Very pretty.

Thank you.

It also goes dormant fairly early too.

This one started having the leaves die back around late October.

Went completely dormant by the first week of November.

This bloom was far superior to when it bloomed 2 yrs ago.

Last year it skipped a season.

WhiteRabbit, they are going to be out of season in the garden centers and nurseries out here.

This is primarily sold as a spring bulb.

I also just purchased a couple more yesterday, as they were on sale. Those won't bloom until another month or two.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Thank you.

It also goes dormant fairly early too.

This one started having the leaves die back around late October.

Went completely dormant by the first week of November.

This bloom was far superior to when it bloomed 2 yrs ago.

Last year it skipped a season.

WhiteRabbit, they are going to be out of season in the garden centers and nurseries out here.

This is primarily sold as a spring bulb.

I also just purchased a couple more yesterday, as they were on sale. Those won't bloom until another month or two.

thanks for the info king

[tuvoc]

I love these little guys! Mine haven't started growing yet. BTW, I had no idea they had a fragrance. Guess I'll have to pay more attention this spring.

Kim

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by tuvoc

I love these little guys! Mine haven't started growing yet. BTW, I had no idea they had a fragrance. Guess I'll have to pay more attention this spring.

Kim

When I bought my first Bletilla striata, about 10 yrs ago, I didn't know anything about it. All I knew was that it was an orchid.

As I did research, I found out it had a fragrance, but I didn't notice it on any of the ones I had in the past.

This one does have a fragrance, and I'm going to breed the smell back in the orchid!

If yours doesn't have a fragrance, just know I'm breeding mine.

When the time comes, I may post some for sale. I've germinated the seeds before, they're so easy it's ridiculous. It's raising the protocorms I haven't figured out yet.

[lycaonpictus]

Very pretty! I've had these in my garden (in Western Pennsylvania) for years. They haven't started to come up yet this year, but things are a little slow this spring thanks to the Snowpocalypse last month.

They are one of my favorite spring "bulbs" -- and seem to spread fairly readily! Much like having an orchid daylily!