Bloomipedia
Alaska rein orchid (Platanthera unalascensis)
Photo: Jared Shorma via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Alaska rein orchid

Platanthera unalascensis

Native to Montana

Alaska rein orchid is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Montana it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

5states
463MT sightings*
1,462U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Montana

Quick look

Platanthera unalascensis is a species of orchid known by the common names slender-spire orchid, Alaska piperia and Alaska rein orchid. It is native to much of western North America from Alaska to the southwestern United States, as well as eastern sections of Canada and the Great Lakes. It can be found in forest, woodland, and scrub habitat, often in dry areas.

  • It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana. NatureServe
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 463 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #99 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

Alaska rein orchid gift ideas

Handmade alaska rein orchid gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Alaska rein orchid art print

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    Alaska rein orchid greeting card

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    Alaska rein orchid mug

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    Alaska rein orchid earrings

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    Alaska rein orchid embroidery pattern

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    Alaska rein orchid sticker

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When does it bloom?

In Montana, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Montana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (20 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S2), NM (S1), NV (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Alaska rein orchid in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

More Montana flowers

Western rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

Western rattlesnake plantain

Goodyera oblongifolia

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
Spotted coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata)

Spotted coralroot

Corallorhiza maculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: May–July
White bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata)

White bog orchid

Platanthera dilatata

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–August

Sources