Can I grow this in my garden?

No, it is impossible to cultivate outside of its highly specific wild ecosystem.

It requires a very specific host shrub and soil fungus to survive.

Plant guide

Underground orchid.

Rhizanthella gardneri

Pronounced rye-zan-THEL-la GARD-ner-eye

Also known as Underground Orchid, Western Underground Orchid

Rhizanthella gardneri — Photo by Cal Wood (CC BY) via gbif

This fascinating orchid spends its entire life cycle beneath the soil surface. It relies on a symbiotic relationship with fungi to survive since it cannot photosynthesize. You will only ever see the flower head if it pushes through the leaf litter.

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: Myco-heterotrophic orchid
Indoor light: Low light
Water: Every 0 days
Mature size: 3 inches
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: May to July

Care

This species is not suitable for home cultivation as it requires a specific host fungus and shrub partner to thrive. It is protected in the wild and should never be disturbed or removed from its habitat. Monitoring its native ecosystem for environmental changes is the only way to support this rare plant.

Watering: This plant survives on natural rainfall within its specific woodland habitat.
Feeding: It does not require fertilizer as it obtains nutrients through a fungal host.
Pruning: Pruning is not applicable for this subterranean species.
Repotting: This plant cannot be repotted and must remain in its native soil.
Soil: Sandy loam with leaf litter
Soil pH: Acidic
Temperature: 5 to 25°C
Humidity: 70 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, lifespan tied to host shrub longevity.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The toxicity of this rare species is unknown, but it should be treated as potentially harmful.
Children: Keep children away from this plant as it is extremely rare and fragile.
Edibility: This plant is not edible and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

Fleshy white underground stems
Small reddish purple flower heads
Bracts surrounding the flower
Lacks green leaves entirely

Height: 0.05 to 0.08m
Spread: 0.02 to 0.04m
Leaves: deciduous
Flowers: cream, pink, 1 to 3cm
Fruit: white, Late winter

Problems to watch for

Bulb RotUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Soft RotUncommon
Tuber RotUncommon

Habitat loss · Clearing of native scrubland destroys the specific fungal networks required for survival.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your underground orchid from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division
When to plant: autumn
Overwintering: The plant remains dormant underground during the winter months.
In containers: This plant cannot be grown in containers.

Protect the native scrubland habitat to ensure the survival of the host shrubs.

Grows well with

Broom Honey Myrtle · This shrub acts as the essential host for the fungal network the orchid requires.

Science

Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Rhizanthella
Order: Asparagales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Western Australia
Conservation: This species is critically endangered and protected by law.

It is a myco-heterotroph that parasitizes a specific fungus connected to the roots of Melaleuca shrubs.

Value to wildlife: specialized pollination
Pollinators: beetles
Uses: botanical study

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 0/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in my garden?: No, it is impossible to cultivate outside of its highly specific wild ecosystem.
Why is it so rare?: It requires a very specific host shrub and soil fungus to survive.

Where the name comes from

The name Rhizanthella comes from the Greek words for root and flower, describing its underground habit.

Good to know

It lacks chlorophyll entirely.
It relies on a specific fungus to bridge nutrients from a host shrub.
The flowers are pollinated by tiny gnats and beetles.
It was only discovered by accident by a farmer plowing a field.

Keep your underground orchid growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.