Useful as a screen plant. A cultivar with variegated leaves is known as P. lasianthos Mint Ice . Dark green, obovate, shiny leaves to 2.5 cm. Masses of white flowers cover bush in late spring and summer, followed by attractive brown fruits. From cuttings or seed.
Fruits are useful in floral arrangements.
Subject to scale attack in some areas. B. lasiophylla is very similar. Evergreen terrestrial orchid. Soft, obovate leaves to 90 cm. Showy white flowers borne on erect spike to 150 cm in summer.