Caladenia alpina

Mountain Caladenia

Stout perennial herb growing from round tubers, forming small colonies. Stem often reddish, hairy. Dies down in hot weather.

SynonymCaladenia lyallii, Stegostyla alpina
FamilyOrchidaceae
StoreyLower storey
Size7-30 cm high
Plant groupingOrchids
LeavesSingle thick fleshy elliptic to lance-shaped leaf 9-28 cm x 5-8 mm, sparsely hairy.
Flower colourWhite, pinkish-red hairs on back
Flowering timeNovember to January
Flowers1-3 flowers to 30 mm wide; broad sepals and petals flat, spreading, central sepal broad, hooded. Lip 3-lobed with red to purple spots & bars, mid lobe bluntly toothed, tip curved under, 4 rows of clubbed warts (calli).
Bird attractingNo
Butterfly attractingNo
Frog habitatNo
Growing conditionsMoist well drained soils in subalpine woodlands, especially with Eucalyptus pauciflora. Frost and snow tolerant. Semi shade.
Garden useUse of orchids in gardens is not recommended, unless they already occur naturally, in which case they need to be protected. Removing orchids from the bush usually results in their death and further depletes remaining wild orchid populations.
Commercially availableNever
Conservation statusLocally common within its preferred growing conditions
Aboriginal Use Food - tuber