Summer Coralroot: The Mysterious Native Orchid You Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Grow
Meet one of North America’s most intriguing native orchids – the summer coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis). This fascinating perennial might challenge everything you think you know about plants, and here’s the plot twist: you definitely don’t want to try growing it in your garden!
What Makes Summer Coralroot So Special?
Summer coralroot is a true botanical oddball. Unlike most plants that create their own food through photosynthesis, this sneaky orchid has given up on the whole being green thing entirely. Instead, it’s what scientists call a mycoheterotroph – essentially a plant that has struck up a deal with underground fungi to get its nutrients. Think of it as nature’s version of ordering takeout instead of cooking at home!
This perennial forb belongs to the orchid family, but don’t expect the showy blooms you might associate with tropical orchids. Summer coralroot produces small, brownish-purple flowers on stems that can reach about 8-20 inches tall. The entire plant has a distinctive reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color since it lacks chlorophyll.
Where You’ll Find This Native Wonder
Summer coralroot is a true North American native with an impressively wide distribution. You can find this species across Canada and throughout much of the United States, from coast to coast. It grows naturally in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland in Canada. In the U.S., it’s found in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Why You Absolutely Should NOT Try to Grow Summer Coralroot
Here’s where we need to have a frank conversation: summer coralroot is essentially impossible to cultivate in a typical garden setting, and attempting to do so is both futile and potentially harmful to wild populations. Here’s why:
- Complex fungal relationships: This orchid depends on specific mycorrhizal fungi that are nearly impossible to replicate in cultivation
- No photosynthesis: Without the ability to make its own food, it relies entirely on its fungal partners
- Specialized habitat needs: It requires the specific forest understory conditions where its fungal partners thrive
- Poor transplant survival: Attempting to dig up wild plants almost always results in their death
How to Appreciate Summer Coralroot Responsibly
Instead of trying to bring this orchid home, here’s how you can enjoy and support summer coralroot:
- Observe in the wild: Look for it in forested areas during summer months
- Take photos, not plants: Document your finds with pictures rather than collection
- Support forest conservation: Protecting forest habitats ensures these orchids have places to thrive
- Learn about mycorrhizal networks: Understanding these fungal relationships helps us appreciate ecosystem complexity
Native Alternatives for Your Garden
If you’re drawn to native orchids that you actually can grow, consider these alternatives:
- Wild ginger: Another forest understory native with interesting flowers
- Trilliums: Stunning spring wildflowers perfect for woodland gardens
- Native violets: Small but charming flowers that support butterfly larvae
- Bloodroot: Early spring bloomer with distinctive white flowers
The Bottom Line
Summer coralroot represents one of nature’s most fascinating partnerships between plants and fungi. While we can’t bring this mysterious orchid into our gardens, we can appreciate its role in healthy forest ecosystems and support conservation efforts that protect its habitat. Sometimes the best way to love a native plant is to leave it exactly where nature intended it to be – thriving in the wild, connected to its underground fungal allies, and reminding us that not everything in nature is meant to be tamed or cultivated.
The next time you’re hiking through a forest and spot these unusual brownish stems rising from the forest floor, take a moment to marvel at the complex underground networks that keep them alive. It’s a beautiful reminder that there’s still so much mystery and wonder in the natural world around us.
