Platanthera dilatata

Common Names

Tall White Bog Orchid, Scentbottle, White Bog Orchid, Bog Candle

Summary

Tall white bog orchid is a North American native perennial orchid with a stout erect stem and 3–6 leaves along the stem; an inflorescence forms a dense to lax spike of 10–70 white, strongly fragrant flowers, each resupinate with a lip base dilated and a spur present.

Propagation occurs by seed requiring a symbiotic soil fungus, with surface sowing in fall in a greenhouse, or by division in autumn; the plant forms colonies via division and is generally difficult to grow, preferring saturated peat or heavy wet fertile soil with mildly acidic to acidic pH and constant moisture; highly cold-hardy and naturally occurs in wetlands such as bogs, fens, marshes, and stream banks; pollinators include noctuid moths.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-4.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones coming soon

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Wet, boggy soils (bogs, fens, marshes)

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green, dark green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Strong growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts skippers (butterflies) and noctuid moths (Mesogona olivata)