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

Flower profile

Alaska rein orchid

Platanthera unalascensis

Alaska rein orchid (Platanthera unalascensis) is a flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Montana

Alaska rein orchid is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

5states where USDA records it
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
  • iNaturalist has 463 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #100 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

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.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Piperia lancifolia, Piperia longispica.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 55 counties across 4 states; the most are in California (34), Washington (8), Oregon (7).

Other Platanthera on Bloomipedia (1): White bog orchid.

More from the Orchidaceae family (23 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Pink lady's slipper, Crane-fly orchid, Downy rattlesnake plantain, Broad-leaved helleborine, Western rattlesnake plantain, Spotted coralroot, Showy orchis, Putty root.

More Montana flowers

Western rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

Western rattlesnake plantain

Goodyera oblongifolia

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
White bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata)

White bog orchid

Platanthera dilatata

Native

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

Spotted coralroot

Corallorhiza maculata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in MT

Sources