Platanthera flava

Common Names

Northern Tubercled Bog-Orchid, Pale Green Orchid

Summary

Platanthera flava is a North American terrestrial orchid with two varieties, var. flava and var. herbiola, commonly called the Pale-green orchid, it forms dense stands, sometimes with plants inches apart and spanning 5 to 10 feet in diameter, in wet habitats such as brownwater floodplain pools and other wet ground in lowland hardwood forests and bottomlands, it grows up to about 60 cm tall with a narrow, spike-like inflorescence bearing several dozen pale greenish or pale yellow-green flowers facing downward, each flower is about a quarter of an inch across, with a leaf-like bract beneath it, a central tubercle on the labellum, and a nectar spur extending from the back, it blooms roughly March to September, with peak flowering typically May to July, it is native to eastern North America, ranging from New Jersey and Missouri south to central Florida and eastern Texas, with a disjunct population in Nova Scotia, two varieties are recognized by some authorities, the plant favors wet habitats including floodplain pools, bogs, seepages, and swamps, and is pollinated primarily by mosquitoes (Aedes) and certain moths, with pollinia attaching to mouthparts after nectar is located, cultivation is difficult, propagation has not been successful, dug plants often do not survive, and wild-dug plants are common in trade, conservation emphasizes maintaining hydrologic integrity of rivershore habitats, in native landscapes, it is valued for riparian and wetland settings and for attracting moth pollinators

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-24 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, wet soils, including seasonally flooded soils

Soil Drainage

Wet, poorly drained soils

Soil pH

Circumneutral (near neutral) soil

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Growth Rate

10-60 cm tall

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Tubers (vegetative propagation)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts moths, Attracts mosquitoes