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Bletilla ochracea 'Chinese Butterfly'

Chinese Butterfly Hardy Ground Orchid

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Item #: 8155

Zones: 7a to 9b, at least

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 30" tall

Culture: Part Sun

Origin: China

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


One of the real treasures in the genus bletilla is the Chinese Bletilla ochracea. Although not as winter hardy as its cousin Bletilla striata, it more than makes up for this with its stunning jewel-like flowers. The 30" wispy flower stalks emerge from below-ground pseudobulbs and top the iris-like pleated leaves from June through August. Each Bletilla ochracea flower stalk is topped with 3-5 small, creamy yellow flowers, each highlighted with a purple and yellow speckled lip. We have found that Bletilla ochracea prefers more sun to grow well as compared to Bletilla striata which has decent shade tolerance...moist rich soil and morning sun or high filtered light shade are best. Bletilla ochracea 'Chinese Butterfly' is a particularly vigorous, precocious flowering seed strain introduced by Linda Guy of the former Carolina Nursery.