Bletilla

This pretty little terrestrial orchid is a hybrid betwseen Bletilla striata and B. formosana. I've had it less than a year but it bloomed nicely for me the first season. From what I've read, I can expect it to form clumps that bloom pretty reliably. The flowers are a little over an inch across and so far my plant is about ten inches tall.

The species B. striata has lavender purple blooms. The one shown here flowered even before I got it planted outside last spring. I have several plants of this species that didn't seem to grow much over the summer. I'm hoping they'll come back and flower next year.