Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Orchidaceae

Genus:

Arethusa

Species:

Arethusa bulbosa

USDA Symbol:

ARBU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

40 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

pink, magenta, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, native pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

peaty, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

commonly found in bogs and wet meadows

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Requires mycorrhizal association for successful germination and establishment. Seeds are dust-like and best grown with fungal partners present.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI