Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Epiphyte
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Swamps
  
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
12 - 8
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
  
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
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
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
  
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
Needs less watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
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
  
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Disease free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
  
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
  
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
  
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
  
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In German
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In French
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
  
Zizka
  
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
  
Zizka
  
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
  
Žižka
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Orchidales
  
Poales
  
Family
Orchidaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Prosthechea
  
Melinis
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Epidendreae
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available