FNPS Plant Database

Spiranthes odorata

fragrant ladies'-tresses, lesser ladiestresses
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

fragrant ladies'-tresses, lesser ladiestresses

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Spiranthes odorata

Family:

Orchidaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

0.5 - 2 ft tall by 0.5 - 1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Fall blooming. Winter dormant.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Bog gardens. Wet meadows. Moist native gardens.

Considerations:

Availability:

Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Pollinated by long-tongued bees, notably, bumblebees.

Native Habitats:

Associated with forested seepage settings.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The published gardening lore says "part-sun" -- where I have seen this growing in nature, it has been in shade.

Citations:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a284

pollinators:
https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b83-116
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiranthes_odorata
https://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/species/spiranthes/odorata/

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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