A ground growing orchid with bright green leaves and clusters of vibrant pink to purple flowers on upright stems. There are also cultivars available with white or yellow flowers.

Here in my new garden on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, the ground orchid is a very useful flowering plant for shady areas. Spathoglottis paulinae Ground Orchid is growing along the south side between the house and fence in a very shady narrow garden bed.

It is ideal for garden borders as it tends to stay in a small neat clump and does not overhang paths too much. In pots they provide a beautiful flower display for long periods in the spring and summer.

Requires rich, moist soils in partial shade. Regular watering and high humidity are essential. Apply fertilizer during the growing season for optimal flowering.

Spathoglottis are difficult to grow outside of the tropics as they do not like the cold. But in sub-tropical and tropical climates they are a beautiful bulb replacement for shady moist places in your garden.