Although not very well known in Australia, Spathoglottis plicata is the most common terrestrial (ground dwelling) orchid in Singapore, where it is often used for landscaping.
There are two species of spathoglottis in Australia, and they belong to a group of over 40 species distributed from tropical Asia to Australia and the Pacific islands
Plant details
Common name: Spathoglottis, or garden orchid
Botanic name: Spathoglottis plicata
Description: Tropical terrestrial orchid. Softly textured, pleated leaves to 1m (3′) long emerge in February from egg-shaped pseudobulbs about 5cm (2″) in diameter. The flowers range in colour from white to purple and are borne on erect spikes to 1m (3′) tall. Flowers open a few at a time at the top of the stem and each stem can last for months.
Best climate: The tropics, Brisbane and the north coast of Western Australia.
Good points:
showy white/mauve/purple flowers free flowering easy to grow
Downside:
Spathoglottis plicata naturalises easily and has become a garden escapee in some countries, particularly Hawaii only for gardeners in northern areas of Australia
Care: Spathoglottis can be grown in the garden or in containers with plenty of room for the roots. They like a well-drained soil or potting mix, and need plenty of moisture throughout the growing season.
Getting started:
This plant may be difficult to find, so you’ll have to hunt around. Try native plant specialists such as Fairhill Native Plants, Yandina, QLD, where our segment was filmed. Phone: (07) 5446 7088. Expect to pay from $6 for 140mm (5.5″) pots in flower.