Glossodia major
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Glossodia major

Tier 2 Difficulty: hard Water: high Light: partial_sun
Temperature
15–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 8–11
Click count
13
Observations
3

Description

Source: leafsnap

Caladenia major, commonly known as the waxlip orchid, parson-in-the-pulpit, or purple cockatoo is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two purple to mauve flowers. It has been known as Glossodia major since its description by the prolific Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1810, but recent discoveries suggest its inclusion in the genus Caladenia.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun

Parson-in-the-pulpit is native to habitats like forest understories and rocky areas, where it occurs in natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can adapt to full sun or full shade, showing its versatile, hardy nature.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 15–37.8°C

Parson-in-the-pulpit can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but its distribution may still be restricted by different combinations of moisture and heat. It does best in warm summer climates with sufficient rainfall or supplemental watering. Extended periods of cloudy, rainy weather and prolonged high temperatures can raise the chance of Parson-in-the-pulpit dying. In winter, appropriate protection from cold can increase the plant’s likelihood of survival.

Ideal temperature: 15–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize a Parson-in-the-pulpit is in early spring, when it is coming out of dormancy and beginning active growth. Fertilization supplies essential nutrients for healthy development. Although the plant has relatively low fertilizer requirements, applying fertilizer annually can improve its survival and encourage better, longer-lasting flowers.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Glossodia
Family
Orchidaceae
Hardiness Zone
8-11
Mature Height
20 cm to 30 cm
Mature Spread
10 cm to 20 cm
Leaf Color
Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Pink, White
Flower Size
2.54 cm to 5.08 cm
Bloom Time
Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Autumn
Harvest Time
Late fall, Early winter

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