Plants of
South Australia
Caladenia latifolia
Pink Fairies
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Critically endangered
Data deficient
Coober Pedy
Mount Gambier
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 12.


Caladenia from the Greek 'callos' meaning beauty and 'aden' meaning a gland, referring to the colourful labellum and the glistening glands at the base of the column that adorn many of the species. Latifolia from the Latin 'latus' meaning broad or wide and 'folium' meaning a leaf, referring to the species broad leaves.

Distribution and status

Found across the southern part of South Australia, from the Eyre Peninsula to the lower South-east, growing on coastal dunes, limestone or less commonly inland on rocky hilltops or creek banks. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in New South Wales. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual terrestrial orchid to 40 cm tall often forming dense colonies by vegetative increase, with a single very hairy, oblong-lanceolate leaf to 10 cm long and 2 cm wide, usually lies flat on the ground, and 1-4, bright pink, rarely white flowers. The back surface of the sepals and petals is a covered with glandular hairs and is a lighter shade of pink. The dorsal sepal is erect, oblong to lance-shaped, petals sometimes with a few irregular teeth on the sides. The Labellum is pink or white with three distinct lobes with the lateral lobes being pink with dark stripes and the mid-lobe being white with a pinkish tip. The centre of the labellum has two rows of yellowish calli with white tips forming a semi-circle. Flowering between September and December. Fruits are brown, hairy, papery ellipsoid capsule. Seeds are very small brown ellipsoid seed with a long cylindrical translucent brown mesh-like covering.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between November and January. Collect fat capsules as they start to dry and turn brown. Pods will split and release the seeds quickly and will require monitoring. To increase the chances of collecting mature pods, it is recommended that a small breathable bag (ie. Organza bags) be used to enclose the developing capsules. Place the capsules in a container that will hold fine seeds and leave to dry for a few weeks or until the capsule split. Then carefully hold the capsule and tap it gently to release the seeds. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place, refrigerator or in liquid nitrogen. For the NVC South East Orchid Project seed was collected from one population in the Bangham area. Approximately 190,000 seeds (0.14 g) were banked. Seed viability was 99%. Seed germination in Caladenia species is difficult without compatible mycorrhizal fungi.

Seeds stored:
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
of plants
Collection number
Collection location
% ViabilityStorage
BGA36,000 (0.013 g)9-Oct-2014OVE3059
Kangaroo Island
BGA47,000 (0.017 g)3-Oct-2014OVE3073
Kangaroo Island
BGA190,000 (0.143 g)10+20-Sep-2013KHB744
South Eastern
BGA808,000 (0.28 g)20+3-Oct-2018JRG694
Yorke Peninsula
24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C, -80°C
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.