Species snakemouth orchid

snakemouth orchid

Pogonia ophioglossoides

The Snakemouth Orchid, more formally known as Pogonia ophioglossoides, is an impressive looking plant species with arching stems reaching four feet in height. It is native to North America, growing in damp woodland areas. The pale yellow-green flowers with intricate pink stripes and fringed petals bloom in the late spring or early summer. The flowers have an unusual forked “snakemouth”, believed to aid in pollination. Snakemouth Orchids thrive in partially shaded and moist environments and require a specific set of soil conditions to survive. Once established, these hardy plants will come back year after year, offering a stunning feature to any garden or larger scale landscaping project.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Tissue Culture

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Pink with yellow to white lower lip markings Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

High

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

High

watering

Snakemouth orchids require very little water, which makes them an ideal choice for dry areas. It is best to water the plant at the base of the leaves. During the flowering season (mid-spring to early summer), the orchid can be watered lightly once or twice a week. During the non-flowering seasons (summer and winter), water can be reduced to once every 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure that the soil is allowed to dry completely before watering, as the orchid is susceptible to root rot if kept too wet.

sunlight

The Snakemouth Orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides) is a part shade lover, so it will need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. It needs partial shade or filtered sunlight during the hottest part of the day, which typically starts around mid-morning and lasts until late afternoon. Irrigation should be done only in the morning hours. Since this species prefers a humid climate, spraying the leaves with water during the day may also be beneficial. In general, it is best to provide this plant species with sunlight from the time the sun rises in the morning until around mid-day or early afternoon.

pruning

Snakemouth orchids can be pruned at any time during the growing season, but the best time to do so is when the flowers have completed blooming. During this time, it is important to remove spent inflorescences and dead flowers, in order to promote new blooms for the following season. When pruning, it is best to use sharp implements to ensure a clean cut. It is also important to avoid excessive pruning, as this can lead to stunted growth and reduced flowering. It is best to focus on removing any overgrown, damaged, or dead growth, as well as thinning out crowded stems to improve overall airflow and light exposure.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Pogonia ophioglossoides typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Pogonia ophioglossoides typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map