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Arethusa bulbosa (Dragon’s Mouth)

Dragon's Mouth, Swamp Pink, Bog Orchid, Bog Rose, Indian Pink

Arethusa bulbosa, Dragon's Mouth, Swamp Pink, Bog Orchid, Bog Rose, Indian Pink
Arethusa bulbosa, Dragon's Mouth, Swamp Pink, Bog Orchid, Bog Rose, Indian Pink

A favorite orchid of naturalists, Arethusa bulbosa (Dragon’s Mouth) is a delicate, fragrant, terrestrial orchid boasting a single bright pink flower with three erect, solid pink sepals and 2 petals forming a hood over the lower lip. Quite showy, the lip is pinkish-white with purple speckling and a yellow midvein. It curves out then down and bears fleshy white to yellow bristles. Blooming in late spring to late summer, the ravishing blossoms produce a solitary grass-like leaf after flowering. While the flowers are showy and fragrant, they offer little or no nectar reward to the pollinators. Growing from a bulb, each plant usually only produces one single stem. This showy bog orchid slowly multiplies to form a charming colony. Perfect for a wet sunny meadow or a bog garden with acidic soil.

  • Grows up to 6-10 in. tall (15-25 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun to light shade in acidic, sandy or loamy, wet soils.
  • A beautiful addition to bog or pond areas.
  • No serious pest or disease issues.
  • Native from Canada south to South Carolina.

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 7
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Orchidaceae
Common names Indian Pink
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 10"
(15cm - 25cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs High
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Garden Uses Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
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Recommended Companion Plants

Calopogon tuberosus (Grass Pink)
Larix laricina (American Larch)
Maianthemum canadense (Canada Mayflower)
Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)
Picea mariana (Black Spruce)
Rhododendron viscosum (Swamp Azalea)
Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant)
Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 7
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Orchidaceae
Common names Indian Pink
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 10"
(15cm - 25cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs High
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Garden Uses Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

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