Bletilla striata Purple - Hyacinth orchid

Bletilla striata 'Purple' is one of the easiest terrestrial orchids to grow, and also one of the hardiest. It forms large clumps of elegant, tapering, beautiful slightly shiny green leaves, which disappear in winter. Its typical, purplish pink orchid flowers appear in late spring. This perennial will tolerate sun in not too hot climates,  and also thrives in partial shade, in any well-drained, not too dry garden soil.

Bletilla belongs to the vast and fascinating Orchidaceae family, rich in 850 genera and 25,000 species found in tropical to temperate regions. Many are epiphytes, using trees as support to grow, and others are terrestrial, growing in the ground. The Bletilla genus, which has only five species, is part of this second category. Bletilla striata is an Asian species native to China, Tibet (in the Himalayas), Japan, and Myanmar (Burma). It is found on cliffs or in mountain forests, at altitudes ranging from 1100 to 3200 m, which explains its good hardiness. In these regions, flowering occurs between March and July depending on the climatic zones. The species produces pink flowers and 'Purple' is a variant with more purplish flowers.
This orchid develops from egg-shaped, compressed pseudobulbs, which serve as a reserve organ allowing the plant to resgrow in spring. The deciduous foliage disappears in winter and reappears in spring in the form of long, narrow, tapering leaves, reaching 45 cm long. They are a beautiful green, curiously pleated, and their surface is semi-shiny. Generally, there are 4 to 6 leaves per shoot, and over time they form a fairly dense carpet, as the plant gradually spreads, even naturalising when the ambient conditions are perfect. After a few years, a plant can develop to produce 20 to 30 flower stems. These appear in June and bear up to a dozen flowers each. They open successively and not in groups on the spikes. The flowers are typical of orchids with petals and sepals of roughly equal size except for the lower petal, called the lip. While the other five are uniformly purplish pink and have a lanceolate shape with a slightly pointed tip, the lip is widened at its tip, which is wrinkled and of a more intense purple with wavy white veins, to attract pollinating insects. Flowering lasts approximately one month between June and July. The foliage, on the other hand, persists for quite a long time, until November, then disappears, and the plant enters its winter dormancy.

Bletilla striata 'Purple' is the beginner's orchid. It is easy to grow, its main requirement slightly moist soil in summer, and not too chalky. Its exotic appearance can help create a tropical-inspired bed, where you can plant it in the foreground. Plant a few clumps of ornamental ginger, such as Hedychium gardnerianum, with its exuberant foliage and long, fragrant, orange-yellow flower spikes, in the second row. In not too cold climates, you can also make room for the astonishing Musella lasiocarpa, a dwarf banana tree called the "golden lotus" due to its unique golden yellow inflorescence. Arisaema fargesii, or cobra lily, will also add character to your bed with its mahogany-coloured flowers, veined with white, imitating the posture of a snake.