Rare Southern Perennials

Terrestrial Orchids

• Terrestrial orchids are perennial plants that grow in loose, moist soil or sphagnum bogs. The rare small green wood orchid (Plantanthera clavellata) grows in bogs and is native throughout the South. The blooming plant is 2 to 7 inches high with five to 15 tiny, yellowish-white to greenish-white flowers. The rare Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense) is a small plant with thick leaves and purple and white bulbous orchids. The greater yellow lady's slipper (C. parviflorum Salisb. Var. pubescens) displays showy, sun-yellow orchids above wide, bright-green leaves.

Aquatic Plants

• Wetland plants help regulate water flow in their natural environments. Bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata) is among the rarest plants in the world. Since its placement on the Endangered Species List in 1979, the bunched arrowhead's natural habitat in North and South Carolina has considerably shrunk. The dainty, flowering plant spreads primarily by underground rhizomes. The rare Southern native Echinodorus parvulus grows 4 inches high with its tiny leaves submerged in the shallow waters of its natural habitat. Its diminutive habit and water tolerance make it useful in tropical fish tanks. Its occurrence in the wild is limited.

Rare Relatives of Common Perennials

• The rare smooth-purple coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) is native to several Southern states. It tolerates no competition in the wild, preferring open sites created by grazing or cyclical fires. Heller's blazing star (Liatris helleri) is extremely rare, growing only at high elevations in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. Common Geums bloom brightly over a long summer season in yellow, orange or red. Geum radiatum, with its sunny yellow flowers, grows only in some areas of the Southern Appalachians. Illegal collection and air pollution seriously threaten this rare Southern native.

Growing Rare Perennials

• Specialty online and local nurseries sell rare perennials for the home garden. Hobbyists and conservation-minded gardeners make certain that the growing conditions in their gardens will support rare plants. The practice of gathering plants from the wild in an illegal, unrestrained or uneducated manner contributes to the demise of valuable species. Consult local botanical gardens, arboretums or university extension programs for guidance in growing rare and endangered or threatened plants. It may not be possible to include some rare perennials in home gardens.