Platanthera stricta
Slender bog-orchid
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orchidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Platanthera stricta (Slender bog-orchid) is a native California herb in the Orchidaceae family, recognized by distinctive pendent club-shaped spur and limited northern range.
Slender bog-orchid is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in wet meadows, seeps, and conifer forests at elevations of 1,000 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this orchid produces delicate green to yellow-green flowers with lance-elliptic sepals and a distinctive pendent linear lip marked with red. Growing 20 to 90 centimeters tall with slender, upright stems, it develops evenly spaced oblong to ovate leaves 4 to 11 centimeters long and 5 to 25 millimeters wide. Its linear to lanceolate lip is typically 5 to 7 millimeters long, with a pendent spur that is club-shaped and sometimes tinged with red-purple. The inflorescence is generally open, extending 5 to 22 centimeters with lower bracts 5 to 35 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive pendent club-shaped spur and limited northern range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Full sun to part shade, wet meadows, seeps, conifer forest
Elevation: 1000-2300 m
California counties: Modoc, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Trinity, Tuolumne, Tulare
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Wyoming
Bloom period
Platanthera stricta blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Spiranthes: Platanthera flowers have spurs and grow in a regular spike, while Spiranthes flowers lack spurs and spiral up the stem.; vs Fritillaria: Platanthera has narrow leaves with a central fold and small spurred flowers, while Fritillaria has broader leaves and large nodding bell-shaped flowers.; vs Clintonia: Platanthera has flowers in a spike with spurs, while Clintonia has few large flowers without spurs and broad basal leaves.; vs Epipactis: Platanthera leaves have one central fold and flowers have spurs, while Epipactis leaves have multiple pleats and flowers lack spurs.; vs Habenaria: Habenaria is an outdated name for Platanthera - they are the same genus.
Frequently asked questions
Is Platanthera stricta native to California?
Yes. Platanthera stricta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Platanthera stricta bloom?
Platanthera stricta blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Platanthera stricta grow?
Platanthera stricta occurs in Modoc, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Trinity, Tuolumne, Tulare, at elevations of 1000-2300 m.
What plant family does Platanthera stricta belong to?
Platanthera stricta is in the Orchidaceae family, genus Platanthera.
Is Platanthera stricta rare or endangered?
Platanthera stricta carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.