Bletilla striata f. gebina

RHS Plant Profile

white-flowered Chinese ground orchid

Synonyms

Bletilla striata var. japonica f. gebina
Bletilla striata alba
Bletilla striata white-flowered
Bletilla striata var. japonica alba

Herbaceous Perennial

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A hardy terrestrial (ground dwelling) orchid with flattened pseudobulbs and wide, lance-shaped, corrugated, green leaves. From spring to early summer it produces starry, white flowers, 2.5cm (1in) across, with a characteristic pale lilac lip.

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Bletilla are deciduous terrestrial perennial orchids with tuber-like pseudobulbs, ribbed, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and erect racemes of bell-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with additional leaf mould, in bright filtered or bright indirect light. In summer, water liberally, applying a quarter-strength fertiliser every third watering. Keep dry in winter. Outdoors, grow in moist, well-drained humus-rich soil in a sheltered site, and provide partial shade in summer. Mulch in winter, or alternatively, lift and store in a dry and frost-free place.

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove withered leaves in autumn or late winter.

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, aphids and mealybugs.

Diseases

Generally disease-free