I have had them for almost 10 years and they are hardy here. They spread at a moderate to slow rate in my garden, and the reliable blooms are lovely. I have pink and white - I like the pink best. The leaves on my pinks are a mid green, kind of ridged, with a hint of white along the edges, and they die to the ground every fall. I wouldn't use it as an accent tho, because the show is short - like a bulb would be, and the foliage gets beat up in high winds. On a protected patio in a pot, that might not happen. They are hardy, but if we have late frosts or freezes the tips which are emerging get winter burn and then look burned for the season, and it also seems to affect the blooms too. I think if I were looking for a patio plant with an unusual bloom I prefer the toad lilies. They bloom in fall, but a much prettier plant. Maybe plant them together.

My experience here in San Antonio is the same as Deb's. Bletilla striata has a beautiful flower, but the foliage emerges so early in the spring that a freeze often nips the edges making them unattractive through the summer. However, they are still well worth growing for the early spring blooms. A friend of mine lets 'bridal veil' wandering jew run through hers in the summer which hides the foliage.

In this photo the foliage has stayed nice and will remain so during the summer ...

I also agree that toad lilies are wonderful fall blooming plants that bloom in the shade and you should have them too. Interspersing them with ground orchids is a WONDERFUL idea!

Toad lily ...

How often must bletilla striata and toad lily be watered?

I would say they are both pretty drought tolerant plants, but bloom better when watered. For instance my next door neighbor has toad lilies which she never waters and they live, but seldom bloom in the profusion mine do. My neighbor's ground orchids are in dry ground under oak trees and I've noticed they bloom best when we have ample winter rains.

What would you say Deb, or anyone else who grows them?

Here is a photo of a fully open bloom ...

And the whole plant again shown growing with some Aspidistra, 'cast iron' plants ...

There is another ground orchid (with a different name) that Lowe's was selling last year that has the same pleated leaves and slightly different flower form which is a tender tropical. Be sure you don't get that one unless you live near the coast. Bletilla striata is hardy to zone 5 I think.

Both my ground orchids and toad lilies only get watered when the grass does, which is at most twice a week in the hottest part of summer when it is dry. Otherwise, they only get what mother natures provides, or whenever I water the grass which is usually once a week or so during spring and fall. My toad lilies are more vigorous than the ground orchids.