Triphora trianthophoros

Common Names

Nodding Pogonia, Three Birds Orchid, Three Birds Orchids

Summary

Triphora trianthophoros is a small North American orchid, a tuberous geophyte typically 7 to 30 cm tall with 2 to 6 clasping leaves, and an inflorescence bearing usually three white to pink-tinged flowers, the lip is three-lobed with three green ridges and the white column bears magenta pollinia, the plant is mycotrophic deriving nourishment from dead organic matter via fungi with photosynthetic shoots emerging only when reproduction conditions favor, it forms colonies via stolons and underground tuberoids and occurs in deciduous forests and beech-maple woodlands across eastern North America commonly in leaf litter or humus-rich pockets, cultivation favors bright indirect light, warm temperatures around 20 to 30°C, and humidity 50 to 70%, with a well-draining orchid mix and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, plant in pots with drainage holes and keep the crown above the soil; water every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing the top inch of soil to dry, and fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced orchid fertilizer, pruning after flowering helps; when kept outdoors, protect from direct afternoon sun and strong winds and rotate pots for even light exposure, propagation occurs by seeds (germination in sterile media about 2 to 3 weeks), division every 2 to 3 years, or cuttings using stems with at least one node, not toxic to humans or common pets.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-12 inches

Spread

0.5–1 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade. Tolerates partial sun

Soil Type

Humus-rich, moist soil with leaf litter in mesic forests.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Blue, white, or multicolored depending on the form.

Bloom Time

Summer to Fall

Foliage Color

Green, often with purple on the lower leaf surface.

Fall Foliage Color

Green to yellow-green, green with a maroon tinge, brown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate to fast growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees