Cranefly orchid.

At a glance

Care level

Difficult

Plant type

Terrestrial orchid

Light

Dappled shade

Indoor light

Low light

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

15 to 20 inches

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 6 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil moist during the winter growing season and allow for a dry dormant period in summer. Watch for leaf yellowing which often signals the start of the summer dormancy. Ensure the soil remains well drained to prevent the corm from rotting.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist while the leaf is present during fall and winter.

Feeding

Use a very dilute balanced fertilizer only during the active winter growing period.

Pruning

Remove the dead flower stalk once it has completely withered after seed dispersal.

Repotting

Only repot when the plant is fully dormant in mid summer to avoid damaging the roots.

Soil

Rich organic woodland soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperature

-15 to 30°C

Humidity

50 to 80%

Safety

People

There is no evidence of significant toxicity, but it is not intended for human consumption.

Children

The plant is small and delicate, so it is best kept away from curious children who might pull at the leaves.

Edibility

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

How to identify it

• Single leaf with purple underside
• Upper leaf surface often dark spotted
• Tall slender flower spike
• Small greenish brown flowers
• Corm like underground structure

Height

0.2 to 0.5m

Spread

0.1 to 0.2m

Leaves

dark green, purple, deciduous

Flowers

greenish brown, purple, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Common problems

• Slug damage — Slugs and snails may feed on the foliage during the cool winter months.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

autumn

Plant this orchid in a stable, undisturbed woodland setting where the soil fungi are already established.

Grows well with

• Christmas Fern — It shares the same woodland floor habitat and provides a nice evergreen contrast.
• Wild Ginger — This low growing groundcover helps maintain the cool, moist soil conditions the orchid prefers.

Similar species

• Puttyroot — It also features a single winter leaf and is another elusive woodland orchid.

Science

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Tipularia

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Southeastern United States

Conservation

It is considered rare in parts of its northern range and should never be collected from the wild.

It thrives in rich, moist deciduous forests where it forms symbiotic relationships with soil fungi.

Value to wildlife

specialized nocturnal pollination

Pollinators

moths

Uses

woodland garden specimen, native plant collection

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why does my plant disappear in summer?

The plant is dormant during the summer months and only produces a flower spike.

Can I grow this in a pot?

It is very difficult to maintain in containers due to its specific fungal requirements.

Where the name comes from

Tipularia comes from the Latin word for a cranefly, referring to the flower shape, while discolor highlights the two-toned leaf.

Good to know

• The species name discolor refers to the two different colors of the leaf, which is green on top and purple underneath.
• It is commonly called the cranefly orchid because the flowers look like tiny insects.
• This orchid relies on a specific mycorrhizal fungus in the soil to survive.
• It is notoriously difficult to cultivate outside of its native woodland habitat.

Also in

• Plants for shade