Fragrant lady’s-tresses, Marsh lady’s-tresses
Spiranthes odorata
Orchidaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Small herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
About 4-6 inches in height; to 1 foot or more when in flower. Taller than broad when in flower.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and central United States west to Oklahoma and south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. Very rare in Broward County along the eastern edge of the Everglades.
Habitats:
Marl prairies, swamps and wet pinelands.
Soils:
Seasonally wet to moist, moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low to moderate; it can grow in nutrient poor soils or soils with some organic content.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy.
Flowering Season:
Fall-winter.
Fruit:
Capsule containing numerous minute seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Roger L. Hammer
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton