Bletilla is a genus in the Orchidaceae family. The species most often grown is Bletilla striata.
Bletilla ochracea is a terestrial orchid. It comes from Yunnan and Sichuan, China. It is the only yellow Bletilla. It is growing next to Bletilla striata but it looks like it needs a warmer position. Photo by Alberto Grossi
Bletilla striata is a terrestrial orchid from China, Taiwan and Japan. The rhizomes will form pseudobulbs half in and half out of the soil from which the leaves and flower stems appear early in the year. It has lance like, ribbed, mid-green leaves and bears bright purple-pink flowers between April and July. Plant in leafy, moist but well-drained soil in light shade in a sheltered site. Needs to be on the dry side in winter when dormant. May also need a winter mulch in regions that get regular frosts. Pot grown, photos by Arnold Trachtenberg
I planted the pseudobulbs about four years ago in a border. In winter (I live in the North of Italy and we usually experience -10/-15°C) I mulch them with dried leaves. I noted that it is frost resistant, but it is very sensitive to late frost. All photos below by Alberto Grossi
Bletilla striata var. alba is not so vigorous as the former.
