How much sun does Creeping Lady's Tresses need?

Creeping Lady's Tresses grows best in shade conditions.

When does Creeping Lady's Tresses bloom?

Creeping Lady's Tresses blooms in July, August, and September.

Where is Creeping Lady's Tresses native?

Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens) is native to AZ, CO, CT, ID and 18 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Creeping Lady's Tresses HOA-friendly?

Creeping Lady's Tresses takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Creeping Lady's Tresses

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Goodyera repens

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

shade

Water

medium

Size

2"–8" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AZ, CO, CT, ID and 18 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Creeping Lady's Tresses.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested Mountains Southern Rockies Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands

Creeping lady's tresses is a small native orchid that forms low mats of attractive variegated leaves with white veining. It produces delicate white flower spikes in late summer and maintains its foliage year-round in shaded areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Creeping Lady's Tresses takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Extremely small size makes it appear sparse in formal landscapes
Orchid flowers may not be recognized as intentional plantings
Very slow spreading can look patchy for years

Wildlife value

This native orchid provides nectar for small native bees and other pollinators during its summer bloom period.

Common questions

How much sun does Creeping Lady's Tresses need?: Creeping Lady's Tresses grows best in shade conditions.
When does Creeping Lady's Tresses bloom?: Creeping Lady's Tresses blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Creeping Lady's Tresses native?: Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens) is native to AZ, CO, CT, ID and 18 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Creeping Lady's Tresses HOA-friendly?: Creeping Lady's Tresses takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Creeping Lady's Tresses? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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