White Fringeless Orchid

Common Name: White Fringeless Orchid

Scientific Name: Platanthera integrilabia

Origin: Georgia

Family: Orchidaceae

Bloom time: July - September

The white fringeless orchid (Platanthera integrilabia) is listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act and is rare throughout its range.

In Georgia, the white fringeless orchid is native to areas of the upper Piedmont region from Rabun to Carroll Counties. Its preferred habitat is bottomland seepage bogs and narrow floodplains of small spring-fed creeks. Major threats include habitat destruction, forest succession due to fire suppression, illegal poaching and incompatible silviculture practices – the growing and cultivation of trees.

The Garden has for years provided habitat management expertise, conducted on-the-ground restoration, and collected seed and germplasm from many populations for propagation and safeguarding, and is actively surveying for additional populations.

Most recently, the Garden led a diverse partnership funded through the NFWF 5 Star Urban Waters program to restore habitats for the species and grow plants from seed in our laboratories for introduction into the restoration sites on a mix of public and private lands. Currently, the Garden working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private landowners and partners to restore and manage natural habitat for this species.