Caladenia filamentosa

Red Daddy-long-legs

Slender perennial herb growing from round tubers, colonies scattered, in small dense clumps. Stem green or reddish, covered in soft long hairs. Dies down in hot weather.

Additional information

SynonymCalonemorchis filamentosa
FamilyOrchidaceae
StoreyLower storey
Size10-40 cm high
Plant groupingOrchids
LeavesSingle narrow lance-shaped leaf, reddish at base, 6-10 cm x 2-5 mm, very hairy.
Flower colourDeep crimson, reddish or pink with white margins, lip paler with dark stripes
Flowering timeSeptember to October
Flowers1-4 hairy flowers to 80 mm wide; sepals and petals thread-like, to 70 mm long, spreading, tails drooping; central sepal erect, slightly incurved. Egg-shaped lip curved forward, 2 rows of fleshy warts, tip curved under.
Bird attractingNo
Butterfly attractingNo
Frog habitatNo
Growing conditionsMoist well drained soil in open forest. Full sun, 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 statusProbably locally extinct.
Aboriginal Use Food - tuber