Chinese ground orchid is a terrestrial, herbaceous perennial in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is native to the grassy slopes of central and southern Japan and the cool mountain slopes of China. The specific epithet, striata , means striped and refers to the stripes and ridges on the lip. The Chinese Ground Orchid requires damp, well-drained, often enriched, soil and prefers a sheltered site in light shade. It does not tolerate wet soils. This plant may not be reliably winter hardy through very cold winters. Apply a good organic mulch in the late autumn or lift the bulbs and store them dry in a frost free place for planting in spring, no more than 4 inches deep in the soil. The flowers are produced from corm-like pseudobulbs which serve as nutrient storage for overwintering. After flowering, continue to provide regular moisture to plants for the remainder of the growing season. This plant makes a good container plant for zones north of USDA Zone 5. Propagate the plant by division in the fall. This plant produces orchid-like, downward-facing purple flowers in spring to summer. It's beautiful, fan-like pleated leaves are showy in the spring through fall. This plant is a great addition to the border of an Asian and shade garden. Diseases, Insect Pests,Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or pests. Slugs and snails are an occasional problem. More information on Bletilla .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 7 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Irregular; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
This plant has 3-5 pale green, 12 inch long swordlike leaves with shallow pleats produced from pseudobulb. Beautiful, fan-like, pleated leaves are showy. Foliage dies back in the winter.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This plant has small, cattleya orchid-like purplish-pink (or deep rose or white) flowers on raceme atop naked scapes typically rising to 18 inches spring to early summer. This plant produces orchid-like, downward-facing purple flowers. Its sprays of orchid-like flowers add special appeal.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia, China to Central and Southern Japan
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
The hyacinth orchid is an important wound herb in China.