Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Epiphyte
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Swamps
  
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
  
2-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
7 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
  
Purple
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Not Available
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Not Found
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
  
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
  
Leaves, Stem
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
  
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
  
ANDROPOGON gerardii
  
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
  
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
  
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
  
Big Bluestem grass
  
In German
Clamshell Orchid
  
Große Bartgras
  
In French
Clamshell Orchid
  
Barbon de Gérard herbe
  
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
  
hierba andropogon grande
  
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
  
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
  
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
  
Vetiver grande grama
  
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
  
Big Bluestem trawa
  
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
  
Big bluestem herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Lillosida
  
Order
Orchidales
  
Poaceae
  
Family
Orchidaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Prosthechea
  
Andropogon
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Epidendreae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available