• Photo of Spiranthes (Spiranthess)

Plant Profile: Spiranthes

Taxonomy: Spiranthes

Names

Ladies' Tresses

  • Photo of Spiranthes (Spiranthess)

Phonetic Spelling:spy-RAN-theez

Genus:Spiranthes

Species:

Family:Orchidaceae

Ladies' Tresses is a perennial herb belonging to the orchid family, characterized by its robust tuberous root system. This genus can be found across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, thriving in environments such as fields, damp meadows, moist thickets, and grassy swamps. The flowers exhibit a range of colors and are arranged in a spiral formation atop a terminal spike.

For optimal growth, plant this species in full sun to partial shade, preferably in acidic, wet soils composed of clay, sand, or loam. Under favorable conditions, it will propagate through rhizomes. It is an excellent choice for planting near ponds, streams, bogs, and within water gardens.

Spiranthes Feature Summary

Spiranthes Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant
#white
#full sun tolerant
#fragrant flowers
#white flowers
#pink flowers
#summer flowers
#orchid

Similar Plants

Spiranthes is often confused with:

Spiranthes Feature Summary

Attributes
Teas were made and used as a diuretic
Eurasia to SW. Pacific, N. Africa, N. & Central America
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE
Perennial
Flowers
Flowers are arranged in a loose or dense spiral around a 6-inch terminal spike. They are orchid-like with 6 petals and 1/2 inch across. They come in multiple colors. Blooms July through Nov.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Gold/Yellow
fused petals
6 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
8-10 inch long basal grass-like leaves
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Herb
Water Plant
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area

Spiranthes Attributes

Spiranthes: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Teas were made and used as a diuretic

Spiranthes: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eurasia to SW. Pacific, N. Africa, N. & Central America

Spiranthes: Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE

Spiranthes: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Spiranthes Flowers

Spiranthes: Flower Description

Flowers are arranged in a loose or dense spiral around a 6-inch terminal spike. They are orchid-like with 6 petals and 1/2 inch across. They come in multiple colors. Blooms July through Nov.

Spiranthes: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Pink
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Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
White

Spiranthes: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Spiranthes: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Spiranthes: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Spiranthes: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Spiranthes: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Spiranthes: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Spiranthes Leaves

Spiranthes: Leaf Description

8-10 inch long basal grass-like leaves

Spiranthes: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Spiranthes: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Spiranthes: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Spiranthes: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Spiranthes: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Spiranthes: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Spiranthes Whole Plant Traits

Spiranthes: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Spiranthes: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Spiranthes: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Spiranthes Cultural Conditions

Spiranthes: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Spiranthes: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Spiranthes Stem

Spiranthes: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Spiranthes: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Spiranthes Landscape

Spiranthes: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland