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Rose Pogonia Wikimedia Commons
Orchidaceae

Rose Pogonia

Pogonia ophioglossoides

Delicacy and hidden beauty.

Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Pogonia
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Summer
Type
perennial
Height
4-16 in
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
acidic, boggy, sphagnum peat
Water
high
Hardiness
3-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • It is also called snakemouth orchid because the fringed lip of the flower resembles a serpent's open mouth.
  • Rose pogonia relies on bumblebees for pollination but offers no nectar reward, deceiving the bees.
  • It grows exclusively in acidic bogs and wet meadows, making it an indicator of pristine wetland habitats.
  • The species name 'ophioglossoides' means 'resembling a snake's tongue' in reference to its single leaf.
  • It can form large colonies in undisturbed bogs, sometimes carpeting entire meadows in pink.

Color meanings

0

rare beauty

1

delicacy

2

wildness

Uses

  • native wildflower gardens
  • wetland conservation
  • bog garden plantings