Spiranthes odorata (Nutt.) Lindl.

Fragrant Ladies' Tresses; Marsh Ladies' Tresses

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Fragrant Ladies' Tresses is a native perennial wildflower in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). It occurs in scattered locations throughout Alabama. Fragrant Ladies' Tresses grows in sloughs, on floodplains, and in swamps. It often grows on sites that are flooded for long periods of time. Fragrant Ladies' Tresses has a basal rosette of long strap shaped leaves. The flowers are white and occur in a tight spiral on a spike that is up to eighteen inches in height. The flowers are fragrant. In addition to reproducing by seed, Fragrant Ladies' Tresses produces vegetative offshoots from its long cord-like roots, giving rise to colonies of connected plants. Fragrant Ladies' Tresses is one of the few native terrestrial orchids that is relatively easy to grow in a garden setting. It is available from some nurseries and is often labeled as “Spiranthes cernua var. odorata”. A cultivar known as 'Chadds Ford' produces slightly larger flowers. Fragrant Ladies' Tresses grows best in full or partial shade with rich, moist soil high in organic matter.—A. Diamond.

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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