Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Sémhur ·✉·✍·, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0

Philippine ground orchid

Spathoglottis plicata

Origin: Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
Not yet checked.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
Not yet checked.
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.
Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA has no page for this plant, so no pet verdict is given.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

Grows best in USDA zone 10B; protect from frost and freezes (UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County)

Light

Recommendations vary from full sun to full shade, but most agree partial shade is acceptable and best for Florida (UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County). Fairchild calls it a bedding plant for light shade.

Mature size

Pleated, palm-like leaves up to 2 feet long; flower stems about 20 inches long (UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County)

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County, Spathoglottis - a beautiful terrestrial orchid
  2. UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, Spathoglottis plicata
  3. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Spathoglottis plicata (Ground orchid)

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

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