Greg Allikas
Family
Orchidaceae
Botanical Name
Calopogon tuberosus
Plant Common Name
Grasspink, Tuberous Grasspink
General Description
A dainty, diminutive orchid, the grasspink is an overlooked wildflower until it blooms in spring when it produces a show of fragrant pink blossoms. Native to North America, from Manitoba to Newfoundland and south to Texas and Florida, it grows from an elongated corm (bulb-like root) in open, often piney bogs. Those found in the warmer climes grow taller and produce larger flowers and the naturally occurring variety, simpsonii, grows in the seasonally wet alkaline soils of Cuba, the Bahamas and South Florida.
The slender, grass-like leaves of this orchid are gently pleated and bright green. From spring to late summer (depending on geography), each plant produces one tall, leafless stalk that stretches upward to display a cluster of flower buds that open in succession from the bottom to top. The pale to rosy 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. 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, grasspink prospers in acid soil rich in organic matter and requires full to partial sun. 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.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
11 - 2
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
2"-24" / 5.1cm - 61.0cm
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Width
4"-16" / 10.2cm - 40.6cm
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Native To
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Canada, Caribbean
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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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
