Platanthera aquilonis × tescamnis: A Rare Colorado Orchid Hybrid Worth Knowing About
If you’re the type of gardener who gets excited about finding botanical unicorns, then Platanthera aquilonis × tescamnis might just capture your imagination. This mysterious orchid hybrid is one of those plants that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon nature’s best-kept secret – assuming you can actually find it!
What Exactly Is This Plant?
Platanthera aquilonis × tescamnis is a perennial hybrid orchid that’s native to the United States, specifically found in Colorado. The × in its name is your clue that this is a natural hybrid – likely a cross between two Platanthera species. You might also see it listed under the synonym Platanthera ×smithii, though that name isn’t considered valid by botanists.
As a forb (that’s botanist-speak for a non-woody herbaceous plant), this orchid grows from the ground up each year without developing any significant woody stems. Think delicate and graceful rather than shrubby and robust.
Where Does It Call Home?
Currently, this elusive orchid is only documented in Colorado, making it about as geographically exclusive as a plant can get. Its wetland status as facultative means it’s flexible about moisture – it can handle both wetland and non-wetland conditions, which is pretty handy for a plant living in Colorado’s variable climate.
Should You Try Growing This Orchid?
Here’s where things get tricky, and we need to have an honest conversation. While this native orchid sounds intriguing, there are several reasons why it might not be the best choice for your garden:
- Extreme rarity: With documentation only from Colorado, this hybrid is incredibly uncommon
- Unknown growing requirements: Specific care instructions, hardiness zones, and ideal growing conditions aren’t well-documented
- Limited availability: You’re unlikely to find this plant at your local nursery or even specialty native plant sales
- Hybrid complexity: As a natural hybrid, it may be difficult to propagate and establish
Better Native Orchid Alternatives
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing native orchids but want something with a better chance of success, consider these alternatives that are more readily available and better understood:
- Lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium species)
- Other Platanthera species that are more common and documented
- Regional native orchids that nurseries can actually source for you
What We Know About Growing Conditions
While specific care instructions are limited, we can make some educated guesses based on its facultative wetland status and Colorado habitat:
- Moisture: Likely appreciates consistent moisture but can tolerate some variation
- Soil: Probably prefers well-draining soil that doesn’t stay waterlogged
- Climate: Adapted to Colorado’s mountain and plains environments
- Light: Most Platanthera orchids prefer partial shade to filtered sunlight
The Bottom Line
Platanthera aquilonis × tescamnis is fascinating from a botanical perspective, but it’s more of a admire from afar plant than a grow in your backyard option. Its extreme rarity and the lack of cultivation information make it unsuitable for most gardeners.
If you’re passionate about supporting native Colorado plants, focus on other documented native species that you can actually obtain, grow successfully, and help establish in suitable garden settings. Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do for rare plants is to appreciate them in their natural habitats while choosing their more common cousins for our gardens.
Remember, the best native plant for your garden is one you can actually grow successfully – and that usually means choosing species with well-documented growing requirements and reliable sources!
