Adirondack Wildflowers:
Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus)

Adirondack Wildflowers: Grass Pink Orchid blooming on Barnum Bog at the Paul Smiths VIC

This page is no longer being updated.  For an updated and expanded version of this material, see: Grass Pink (Calopogon tuberosus).

Calopogon tuberosus, the tuberous grass pink, is native to eastern North America. In the United States, it occurs from as far southwest as Texas and Oklahoma and southeast to the Florida Everglades to as far northeast as Maine and as far northwest as Minnesota. In Canada it is found in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. It also is found in Cuba and the Bahamas. In New York State, it is listed by the USDA as "Exploitably Vulnerable."

According to the Wildflower Center's Native Plan Database, the name "Calopogon" comes from the Greek words meaning beautiful beard. The prominent hairs, the beard, on the lip identify it. This species is a plant of moist areas and is most abundant in pineland bogs. It is known as grass pink because of the long, narrow, grass-like leaves. It grows 2 1/2 to 4 feet tall, with 2 or more flowers arranged along the stem. The blossoms are rose-pink to pale orchid and are about 2 inches across. This delicate, sweet-smelling orchid often springs from peat or sphagnum moss and is easily recognized by the bearded lip petal and solitary, grass-like leaf. Its genus name is derived from the Greek for beautiful beard, and the species name is Latin for tuberous.

This lovely orchid is one of many that grow in the Barnum Bog, which can be accessed via the boardwalk on the Boreal Life Trail. Grass Pink Orchids usually bloom in late June and early July.