Family
Orchidaceae
Botanical Name
CALOPOGON tuberosus var. simpsonii
Plant Common Name
Grasspink, Simpson'S Grasspink
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
It's not typical to find an orchid that prospers in swampy soils with high pH. Simpson's grasspink is one such plant. A ground-dwelling, grass-like orchid that's an overlooked wildflower until it blooms, Simpson's grasspink hails from the sunny alkaline swamps of the Everglades and in nearby Cuba and the Bahamas. It grows from an rounded, plump corm (bulb-like root).
The slender, grass-like leaves of this orchid are gently pleated and bright green and are strongly curved in cross-section. The flowering season is usually mid- to late spring, but may occur anytime from late fall to early summer. Each plant produces one tall, upright stem that displays one to a cluster of up to two dozen flower buds. They open in succession from the bottom to top. The violet-rose to light pink flowers have five petals which surround a curved, anvil-headed floral tube. The upper petal sports a showy yellow tuft of trichomes and pollen-carrying stamens, and a paler, almost white zone that helps distinguish it from the common tuberous grasspink of the American Southeast. Once a pollinating bee lands on the blossom, the upper petal folds to dot pollen onto the back of the insect as it drinks nectar from the lip petal (labellum). Seed capsules follow pollination.
Easily grown from seed, Simpson's grasspink prospers in neutral to alkaline soil containing some organic matter. It needs a long growing season with little to no frost in a full to partial sun location. Plant it in a naturalistic moist wildflower meadow or bog garden. Happy plants will naturalize over time. When not in flower, this orchid looks like nothing more than a sickly grass.
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Tropical, Wildflower
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes
