Garden orchids - Spiranthes cernua var. odorata 'Chadd's Ford'
The genus Spiranthes is widely distributed, with over 300 species worldwide and includes many sections. The Spiranthes section includes the white Spiranthes species, familiar to many of us, the name being given in the distant past due to the resemblance to braided hair. William Turner, in an English herbarium from 1548, mentioned S.spiralis as "Lady's Footprints". However, the majority of the group is geographically concentrated in the Eastern United States, where S.cernua is noted for its ability to adapt to different environments and presents itself differently depending on the gene set used. 'Chadd's Ford' is quite widely available in the UK and was named after Dr. Brubecker's home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from where it was introduced commercially in 1973 and has been propagated in large numbers by tissue culture.
In addition, the morphology of their inflorescence makes them particularly graceful and elegant. Their thin stem (14-38 cm) is covered by a spiral inflorescence, like a ribbon, adorned with pure white flowers and a sweet smell.
It can reach a height of 75 cm or more, having a slender stem with up to 70 white, shiny, almost translucent flowers with a vanilla scent. The base of the flower is prominently arched downwards, giving it a bent posture and resulting in the specific name, cernua, which means "bent". The floral spike is surprisingly hardy. It blooms more frequently in the autumn months, October-November.
The basal rosette of linear leaves is growing for most of the year, although it is barely preserved around the flowering period. The roots are stoloniferous and last for more than one growing season (usually 3-4 seasons), so they develop slowly into a group of rather long, brittle, carrot-like structures, and since they descend mainly vertically , appreciates a deep pot.
Cold resistance: -20°C
Height with pots included: 10-15 cm
Pot diameter: 9 cm
Depending on the season, the plants can be in different stages - from bulbs in the ground or barely sprouted bulbs to fully developed plants.