How to Grow and Care for Ladies tresses

Chinese spiranthes (Spiranthes sinensis) is a medium-sized terrestrial orchid with pointed glossy leaves and velvety roots. It blooms from spring to fall with tall spirals of flowers. The flower spike is twisted into a spiral shape as the reddish-purple flowers bloom all around the spike. Thrives in full sun and moist well-drained soil. It is commonly found growing on roadsides grassy areas and open forests.

Although its common name indicates that the spring is the time when spring lady's tresses blooms, in cooler areas such as New England, its blooms actually most often appear in the fall. This tall orchid is listed as a rare, endangered, or threatened species in several U.S. states.

Autumn lady's tresses is a tuberous herbaceous perennial. The late summer/early autumn spiraling blooms of this pretty yet delicate orchid resemble a braid of hair, hence the name ‘Lady’s Tresses’. Autumn lady's tresses is unusual for existing for many years without blooming.

Other names for nodding lady's tresses include wild hyacinth or nodding spiranthes. It gets its name because each of its blossoms “nods,” or tips down slightly. This orchid is incredibly easy to grow—even for the beginner. It slowly spreads via rhizomes (underground root systems), until it forms breathtakingly beautiful colonies. Once it attains full maturity, you can propagate it by separating the rhizomes.

Northern slender lady's tresses (Spiranthes lacera) is a North American orchid that produces loose spirals of flowers along its stalk. It grows naturally in a variety of different habitats and blooms in the summer. It differs from the "southern" variant in that the northern slender lady's tresses produces hairy leaves and a less uniform spiral.