Calopogon tuberosus aka Tuberous Grasspink

Calopogon tuberosus is a perennial orchid known as grass pink. It belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Its native range spans central and eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It also includes the Bahamas and Cuba. Wild plants grow in bogs, fens, moist prairies, and meadows. They also grow in savannas and other open, moist sites. These habitats help explain its need for sun and steady moisture.

An underground corm produces one narrow leaf and a flower stalk. The leaf can reach 1.25 feet [0.38 metres] in length. It can grow about 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] wide. The flower stalk can reach 4 feet [1.22 metres] tall. Listed garden spread reaches 2 feet [0.61 metres]. Its slender leaf gives the plant a grasslike look. The tall stalk lifts the blooms above the leaf. This is a herbaceous plant, rather than a woody shrub.

Flowers appear from May to July, with two to twenty per stalk. Each bloom spans about 0.08–0.17 feet [0.025–0.05 metres]. Their colour ranges from pale pink to magenta. A tuft of yellow hairs marks the top of each bloom. These hairs look like stamens. White-flowered plants occur, but they are rare. The showy blooms provide the main garden interest. Their bold colour stands out against the plant’s narrow leaf.

Grow grass pink in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist to wet throughout growth. It accepts several soil types when these needs are met. Sand and peat can help prepare a suitable planting site. The plant tolerates wet soil and suits USDA zones 3–9. Bog gardens and rain gardens offer possible homes. Wet meadow areas also suit it when they stay open. Choose a site that combines moisture with good drainage.

Missouri Botanical Garden lists no major pest or disease problems. It also rates maintenance needs as low. With suitable conditions, this is among the easier native North American ground orchids to grow. That does not remove its need for the right site. Habitat loss and wild collecting threaten natural populations. Buy nursery-propagated plants from growers with a sound reputation. Do not take plants from the wild.