Spiranthes odorata aka Marsh Ladies' Tresses

Spiranthes odorata is an orchid that lives for years. It belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Its common names include fragrant ladies' tresses and marsh ladies' tresses. It grows wild in wet parts of the eastern United States. It lives in marshes, bogs, swamps, and other damp sites. Missouri Botanical Garden gives its range from New Jersey and Tennessee. It extends south to Florida and Texas. Kew also records it as far west as southeastern Oklahoma.

This small plant has upright flower spikes above leaf rosettes. These groups of leaves grow at the plant's base. The spikes usually stand 0.75–1.5 feet [0.23–0.46 metres] tall. Some reach 2 feet [0.61 metres], though this is less common. Its listed garden spread is about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. The narrow leaves range from lance-shaped to linear, or line-like. Some leaves grow farther up the flower spikes. Rhizomes, which are stems below ground, spread at a slow pace. They can form colonies where the site meets their needs.

Small white flowers crowd the spikes in rows with gentle twists. Each flower has a hooded shape and a strong scent. Close groups help these small blooms stand out. The spiral shape gives the plant its ladies' tresses name. Uneven cell growth makes the rows of flowers twist. Missouri Botanical Garden lists its bloom time as September to October. Its broader account gives late summer into fall. Flowers may last until the first frost.

In gardens, this orchid does best in partial shade. Give it acidic soil that stays moist or boggy. Its listed water needs range from medium to wet. It thus suits sites that stay moist for long periods. Missouri Botanical Garden lists it for USDA hardiness zones 5–9. It rates the plant's care needs as medium. Slow rhizome growth lets plants spread over time in ground that suits them.

Use it in moist meadows or damp woodland gardens. It also suits wet wooded slopes and pond edges. Stream edges and water gardens are other places to grow it. Its small size fits these sites near water. White blooms and scent add interest late in the growing season. It gives the garden flowers as summer turns to fall. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no serious insect or disease problems.