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Slender sun orchid

Thelymitra pauciflora

Slender sun orchid
Photo: Melburnian, CC BY 3.0

Slender sun orchid is a tuberous, terrestrial orchid native to Australia and New Zealand, growing in open forest, heath and grassland. It is grown mainly by enthusiasts in cool, open, native-style gardens with good light and sharp drainage.

Family
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Grows as
Orchid
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water moderately during active growth in cooler months and keep nearly dry while dormant in summer.
Soil
Free-draining, sandy or gritty soil with some organic matter, such as a native or orchid mix.
Temperature
Cool to mild, roughly 5–25 °C; protect from prolonged heat and hard frost.
How easy
Moderate
Native range
SE. New South Wales to SE. South Australia
Climate
subtropical

About

Thelymitra pauciflora, commonly called the slender sun orchid in Australia and maikaika or maika in New Zealand is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It is one of the most widespread and common orchid species in Australia, growing in all states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and also in New Zealand including Chatham Island.

Where it grows

Thelymitra pauciflora occurs in the Australian Capital Territory and all states of Australia except Western Australia and Northern Territory. In Australia it grows in sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath. It also occurs in New Zealand where it grows in open areas amongst scrub, clay banks, open grassland and from lowlands to low montane.

Other Thelymitra plants

Abrupt Sun Orchid · Wyong sun orchid · Gumland sun orchid · Bleak sun orchid · White sun orchid · Kath's sun orchid · Alpins striped sun orchid · Mountain sun orchid · Long-leaved sun orchid · Rabbit-eared sun orchid · Cleopatra's needles · Forest sun orchid

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Thelymitra pauciflora by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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