Tendrils

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, Another Orchid!

There’s another orchid out there waiting for you. Something to look for as you wander the woods during the winter (when there is no snow on the ground!). An EVERGREEN native orchid. Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyear pubescens). Native to eastern North America. Actually one of the most common orchids on this part of the continent.


I find the leaves quite striking. ITS OWN LITTLE ART DISPLAY. Blooms appear in mid-July till September. They’re on a stalk, called a raceme, that is 4 to 14 inches tall, with flowers up and down the top portion, flowers facing in all directions. Those flowers, very small, are white or pale green.

Something to add to my “MUST DO” list. Get photos of these orchids. Right now I don’t have any. At least there are none in the huge collection of my photos that are keyworded so that I can locate them. Stay tuned.

Brenda Clements Jones

6 responses to “Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, Another Orchid!”

  1. Just beautiful!! I don’t think I’ve seen any of those here but I’ll be watching. 😀

  2. W.O.W. this is spectacular! The leaves are beautiful – can only imagine how they will be topped with a flower. Thank you so much for sharing this gem. LOVE.

    • Hi Kathy!
      Are you warm enough down there? Mom has taken her orchids in because of the cold. I LOVE seeing your surroundings there at CK!

      Those leaves, like so much we have in our world, are such a pleasure to see.

      Thanks BUNCHES for reading my posts.
      Bren

  3. I’ve seen this!…not knowing what it was, and it not in flowering! Will watch for it…thanks!

    • Hi Anita,
      It’s pretty distinctive, don’t you think! You and I both will be watching for it to bloom. Surely I have pictures of it blooming, but I don’t know where the photos are. Mid-July till September. I’ll be watching.

      Thanks for reading my posts!
      Bren