Bletilla

( bleh - TILL - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

These plants, commonly called Urn Orchids, Hardy Orchids, or Chinese Ground Orchids, are terrestrial plants native to China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. These flowers grow from pseudobulbs that sit at ground level, each producing a few green, strappy leaves. In spring and early summer, flower stems with multiple blooms emerge. Bletilla plants appreciate partial shade and regular waterings, especially during their active blooming and growing periods. These are great natural companions to wildflowers and ferns, adding beautiful foliage and flowers to mixed beds and borders. Bletilla can also be used as a no-traffic woodland groundcover. They are commonly grown in pots in cool-winter areas, and make handsome cut flowers for fresh arrangements.

Bletilla Species and Varietals

The genus Bletilla is a member of the plant family Orchidaceae and includes five species. Growing zones vary somewhat depending on the species; for more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Bletilla ochracea (Chinese Butterfly Orchid)
This species is native to Vietnam and China, and produces beautiful cream to peach-colored flowers with magenta, red, orange, and yellow markings. Varieties include 'Oriental Gold' (with whiter flowers than the species), 'Terracotta Warrior' (with pinkish-mauve flowers), and 'Chinese Butterfly'. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 5-9, and elsewhere as a greenhouse specimen.

Bletilla striata (Hyacinth Orchid, Chinese Ground Orchid)
Native to Japan, Korea, Myanmar, and China, this species produces purple to magenta-colored flowers that last for about six weeks in springtime. It is a hardy orchid species, able to withstand temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (best in USDA zones 5-9) Varieties include 'Alba' (with white flowers), 'Murasaki Shikibu' (with bluish lavender flowers), and Bletilla striata albostriata (with leaves striped with green and white).

Caring for Bletilla

These flowers naturally grow in woodland habitats, and prefer full sun to partial shade with protection from afternoon sun. They grow from tuberous roots, and prefer well-draining, rich soils with a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of compost and organic material before installing these flowers. After planting, mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. Water new plantings regularly as they develop a strong root system. Mature plants appreciate moist soil, as well; water every time the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Keep the underground pseudobulb dry in wintertime while plants are dormant. In areas with cold winters, grow Bletilla in containers so they can be brought indoors at the end of fall.

Fertilize the planting area each year in early springtime by pulling back mulch and adding compost. Work compost gently into the soil, water, and then reapply mulch. Over time, these plants will form clumps that will need to be divided to avoid overgrowing their space (especially if they are being grown in a cramped border or a pot). For more information on dividing Bletilla, see the Propagation section below. Pruning is not generally required for Hardy Orchids, though dead or yellowing leaves can be removed to maintain a tidy appearance and good health. Never remove more than a third of the foliage at any time to avoid over-stressing the plant. Foliage can be cut after it dies back in the fall. Mulch over bulbs in the winter to protect from frost. These flowers are perennials, and typically live and multiply for many years in the garden. Rhizomes will spread over time, providing beautiful blooms indefinitely.

Caring for Bletilla in Containers
Bletillas are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in pots, a growing situation which also allows for gardeners in cooler climates to grow them outdoors during the warmer months of the year. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Bletillas grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot. Bletilla when grown in containers will also need to be divided every few years, as their rhizomes form clumps over time. For instructions on how to successfully divide Bletilla flowers, see the Propagation section below.

Harvesting Bletilla
Ground Orchids make handsome additions to cut flower arrangements, and are typically available in late spring through early or mid-summer. The best time to harvest these blooms is in the morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Choose flowering stems that have 1/3 to 1/2 of the blooms open. Using sharp, clean shears or snips, cut the flowering stem at its base at an angle, and then drop it immediately into a bucket of cool water. They will last for between 7 and 10 days in a vase.

Propagation

Bletilla can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your flower, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Bletilla by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded and are dry and brown. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7 days from sowing.
Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Bletilla by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall, and should be completed every few years, especially if they are grown in a cramped space or container. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the bulb(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick bulb section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided bulbs about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Immature Bletilla seed pods. When they are mature, they dry out and turn brown.

Bletilla seeds are light tan and very small, appearing like dust. They require symbiotic fungi for germination in a natural setting, as they lack food reserves for the developing embryo.