Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Orchidaceae

Genus:

Platanthera

Species:

Platanthera cristata

USDA Symbol:

PLCR

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Epiphyte

Height:

90 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

orange, yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

pollinators

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Benefits from periodic fire to reduce competition and maintain open, sunny habitat in pine savannas.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, rich, well-drained loam

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Often found in wet meadows and bogs

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Dust seeds require symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi or sterile asymbiotic agar medium for germination; conventional cold stratification is not applicable.