Cremastra appendiculata

The Asian terrestrial orchid, Cremastra appendiculata has proven to be easy to grow as long as you give it humus-rich, moist, but well-drained organic soils. In appearance, it’s like a giant version of our native cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor). The 1′ long x 2″ wide green leaves emerge in the fall and remain until April when they begin to go dormant as the flower spikes appear. The 1′ tall flower spikes of Cremastra appendiculata are topped in late April/early May (NC) with small, mauvy-lavender, pendent tubular flowers…very cute, but don’t expect a cypripedium. To quote Abe Lincoln, “People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.”