Platanthera ciliaris

Common Names

Orange Fringed Orchid, Yellow Fringed Orchid, Orange Plume, Bobwhite's Moccasin, Owl's Head

Summary

Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) is a North American native terrestrial orchid that grows about 24–100 cm tall, with 2–4 basal leaves and an erect inflorescence bearing a dense raceme of 30–60 bright orange to yellow flowers. The lip is heavily fringed and a long nectar spur accompanies each flower; blooms occur from midsummer to early fall and are highly attractive to butterflies and moths. It inhabits moist, acidic habitats such as bogs, swamps, wet meadows, prairies, pine savannas, open woods, and roadsides, and can form small colonies by spreading stolons. For cultivation, it prefers bright indirect light to full sun with moisture kept consistently moist, in slightly acidic soils (pH 5–6) that remain well drained; high humidity and good air circulation help prevent rot. It tolerates wet soils and is well-suited for bogs, ponds, or containers; hardy in zones 5–9. Propagation is by seeds, which require a soil-dwelling fungus to germinate (surface-sown and kept moist in a greenhouse), or by division (best in autumn). The plant has ornamental value, provides nectar for butterflies and moths, and suits native meadows, bogs, and pollinator gardens, though it is threatened in many areas and typically cultivated with care.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

9.5 inches - 3.5 feet

Spread

1.5-3 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun (soft) to Partial Shade, Partial Sun also suitable

Soil Type

Acidic soils (pH ~5–6), moist to wet, boggy soils

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5-6, No strict ideal pH; tolerates acidic to neutral soils

Bloom Color

Yellow to Orange

Bloom Time

Summer to Fall

Foliage Color

Bright green to bluish-green

Fall Foliage Color

Unknown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Rapid

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts moths