Aplectrum hyemale

Description

This is a North American native orchid with the glamorous name of ‘Putty Root’. The plant arises from a globular tuber, with the remains of the previous year’s tuber persisting. Puts forth a single, crinkled leaf in fall. This leaf can be up to 10″ long and 3″ wide with beautiful parallel silver veining. In the Spring, the leaf vanishes and a 12″-18″ pencil thick stem of greenish-yellow-purplish Orchid flowers appears.

Aplectrum is typically found in moist, rich deciduous woods.
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings

The name “putty root” comes from the sticky fluid which can be removed from the tubers when they are crushed. This fluid was used by early American settlers to repair broken pottery, and by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.