Common lady's tresses (Spiranthes odorata) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Marsh lady's tresses, Fragrant lady's tresses
Family
Orchidaceae (orchid family)
Origin
South-eastern USA, from Texas east and north to Delaware
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
5–28°C
Care level
expert
Lighting
Part shade (grown out of water)

Care

Warning: Marsh lady's tresses is a land (or at most bog) plant, not a true aquatic plant. Kept fully underwater it slowly weakens and dies, often over several months, so it is best grown emersed in a paludarium or with only its roots in water. Spiranthes odorata is a perennial ground orchid of moist, partly shaded places with acidic or neutral soil in the south-eastern United States. It grows up to about 50 cm tall and wide, with dense, slightly twisted spikes of fragrant white hooded flowers in late summer and autumn. Our sources do not describe it growing submerged, even though it appears on Wikipedia's list of aquarium plants. The garden selection 'Chadd's Ford' is hardy to about −10 °C and is now regarded as a different species, Spiranthes ×bightensis. Grow it in fertile, moist soil in part shade, in a bog garden or the land area of a paludarium. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiranthesodorata); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Orchids of this genus are hard to propagate: established plants can sometimes be divided when dormant, and seed needs a specific soil fungus to germinate. Only buy nursery-raised plants; never collect them from the wild.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not an aquarium plant. Grow it in a bog garden or moist, mossy paludarium area above water; do not sell or buy it as a submerged aquarium plant.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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