Yellow Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris)

Yellow fringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), also called orange fringed orchid or haired fringed orchid, is a terrestrial orchid native to eastern North America. A member of the Orchidaceae family, it's a striking, late-summer bloomer of bogs and wet meadows.

Description

Tuberous perennial 1–3 feet tall. Leaves are lanceolate, keeled, 4–8 inches, basal. Inflorescence is a dense, cylindrical spike 3–6 inches, packed with small flowers. Flowers are bright orange-yellow, deeply fringed (lacerated) on the lip, with a long spur. Blooms July–September. Fragrant at night.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 5–9.
• Light: Full sun to part shade.
• Soil: Acidic, consistently moist, peaty/sandy. Bog conditions.
• Water: Constant moisture; never dry.
• Temperature: Temperate; cold-hardy.

Care & Maintenance

Do not disturb. Protect habitat. Propagate from seed (requires mycorrhizal fungi) or division (difficult). Never collect from wild.

Uses

Bog gardens, wet meadows, native plant restorations. Conservation priority.

Potential Issues

Habitat loss, drainage, collection. Difficult in cultivation without precise conditions.

A flamboyant, fringed native orchid that lights up the summer bog.