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Spiranthes × bightensis 'Chadds Ford'
lady's tresses orchid
Add a touch of late-season magic to your garden with spikes of elegant, fragrant white flowers that appear from late...
9cm pot
available to order from late spring
3 × 9cm pots
available to order from late spring
1
Delivery options
Plant description
Add a touch of late-season magic to your garden with spikes of elegant, fragrant white flowers that appear from late summer into autumn. Each bloom nods gracefully along spirally arranged stems, with a subtle yellow mark on the lip and a scent reminiscent of vanilla and jasmine. The contrast of delicate flowers above a tidy rosette of upright, strappy green leaves makes it a standout in borders, woodland edges, or beside ponds.
Spiranthes ×bightensis ‘Chadds Ford’ grows in neat clumps up to 60cm (2ft) tall, providing vertical interest and a soft, airy texture that complements other perennials. It thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with partial shade and benefits from a light winter mulch in colder areas. Once established, the clumps spread slowly, forming colonies that naturalise subtly, bringing ongoing charm and supporting garden biodiversity.
This terrestrial orchid is low-maintenance, generally disease-resistant, and a reliable performer in most sheltered gardens. Its statuesque flowering spikes make it perfect for autumn displays, attracting attention when many other plants are past their peak.
Spiranthes ×bightensis ‘Chadds Ford’ grows in neat clumps up to 60cm (2ft) tall, providing vertical interest and a soft, airy texture that complements other perennials. It thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with partial shade and benefits from a light winter mulch in colder areas. Once established, the clumps spread slowly, forming colonies that naturalise subtly, bringing ongoing charm and supporting garden biodiversity.
This terrestrial orchid is low-maintenance, generally disease-resistant, and a reliable performer in most sheltered gardens. Its statuesque flowering spikes make it perfect for autumn displays, attracting attention when many other plants are past their peak.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Spiranthes × bightensis Chadds Ford:
Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Keep the soil consistently damp but not waterlogged while the plants are growing. Apply a light layer of mulch in spring, just as new shoots appear, to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the roots, taking care not to cover the emerging growth.
Remove spent flower spikes after blooming to keep the plant tidy, and feed lightly with a balanced, diluted fertiliser during active growth. Once established, the plants become more drought resistant but will benefit from extra water during dry spells.
Remove spent flower spikes after blooming to keep the plant tidy, and feed lightly with a balanced, diluted fertiliser during active growth. Once established, the plants become more drought resistant but will benefit from extra water during dry spells.
Please note:
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
