Plant Profile: Arethusa bulbosa

The Dragon's Mouth Orchid, a wildflower belonging to the orchid family, is indigenous to regions stretching from Canada down to South Carolina. This plant thrives in the mountainous areas of North Carolina, favoring damp environments such as bogs, wet meadows, and particularly sphagnum bogs. Typically, it reaches a modest height of about one foot. In the spring to early summer, it produces a striking pink flower on each stem, accompanied by grass-like leaves that emerge afterward. Due to its subtle appearance, it can easily be missed in its natural surroundings.

In North Carolina, this orchid is classified as endangered. Attempts to transplant it from its natural habitat have seldom been successful, and it is not commonly available for commercial sale.