There are forty species of orchids which grow in the wild in Rhode Island. All are natives except for Epipactis helleborine. At least eight of these native orchids have not been seen in recent years: Galearis spectabilis, Isotria medeoloides, Liparis liliifolia, Listera cordata, Malaxis bayardii, Platanthera hookeri, Platanthera macrophylla, and Platanthera orbiculata.Some orchids such as Green Adder’s-mouth are small, inconspicuous and easily overlooked. Others, such as Pink and Yellow Lady’s-slippers are showy and more easily noticed.
Orchid habitat varies with species. Some species such as Malaxis usually grow in bogs or swamps while Spiranthes vernalis is found in dry fields. Platanthera lacera can be found in swamps and also in dry fields.
RI orchids bloom from early May into October and sometimes into November. The earliest species to bloom in RI is Corallorhiza trifida and the last is C. odontorhiza.
