Downy rattlesnake plantain.

At a glance

Care level

Difficult

Plant type

Perennial orchid

Light

Dappled shade

Indoor light

Low light

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

10 to 15 inches

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to mimic its natural forest floor habitat. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often indicate the soil is staying too wet for too long. It prefers high humidity and cool temperatures to really thrive.

Watering

Keep the soil damp to the touch but avoid letting it sit in standing water.

Feeding

Use a very dilute balanced orchid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim off the spent flower spike once it has fully withered.

Repotting

Only repot when the plant has clearly outgrown its container or the soil has broken down.

Soil

Humus rich, acidic, well draining

Soil pH

4.5 to 6.0

Temperature

-34 to 30°C

Humidity

60 to 90%

Safety

People

There is no evidence of toxicity, but it is not a food plant.

Children

The plant is not dangerous, but children should be taught not to pick wild plants.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

• Dark green leaves with white reticulated veins
• Basal rosette of evergreen foliage
• Small white flowers on a fuzzy spike
• Leaves have a soft downy texture

Height

0.15 to 0.3m

Spread

0.1 to 0.2m

Leaves

dark green, white, evergreen

Flowers

white, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

• Root rot · Occurs when the soil stays too wet without proper drainage.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, early autumn

Group this orchid with other woodland plants that enjoy consistent moisture and leaf mold.

Grows well with

• Christmas Fern · They share the same preference for moist, shaded woodland environments.
• Trillium · These spring ephemerals provide a lovely contrast in form and timing.

Similar species

• Downy Rattlesnake Plantain · This is the primary species in the group.

Science

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Goodyera

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Eastern North America

Conservation

It is considered a species of concern in some parts of its range due to habitat loss and overcollection.

It thrives in the dappled shade of deciduous forests where it relies on specific soil fungi to germinate.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees

Uses

woodland garden, terrarium plant

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in a regular garden?

It requires specific woodland conditions like deep shade and acidic, moist soil.

Does it need fertilizer?

It generally does not need fertilizer if grown in rich, organic woodland soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors John Goodyer, a 17th century British botanist, while the species name refers to the fine hairs on the flower spike.

Good to know

• It is one of the few orchids that is grown primarily for its beautiful foliage.
• The white veins on the leaves are actually air spaces under the epidermis.
• It grows slowly and prefers undisturbed forest floors.

Also in

• Low-light houseplants
• Plants for shade