Not all Lady's-tresses belong to the Genus Spiranthes, Creeping Lady's-tresses belongs to a differing Genera, that of Goodyera.

Slight resemblance to : Autumn Lady's-Tresses, Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis), Summer Lady's-tresses and Irish Lady's-Tresses but un-like all these, Creeping Lady's-tresses has creeping rhizomes, has net-veined leaves and differences in the flower.

Un-like the other Lady's-tresses, this one has a system of creeping rhizomes by which it vegetatively multiplies quite extensively, although it does also set seed to propagate, pollination being mostly by Bumble Bees.

No relation to : Lady's-Mantle (Alchemilla glabra), Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum), Lady's Teardrops (Fuschia magellanica), Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum) [plants with similar names belonging to differing families. But it is related to Lady's-Slipper Orchid (Cypripedum calceolus), but is in a differing genera].

Occupies pine and birch wood, but mostly of coniferous woodland, growing particularly well under the deep leaf-litter and moss underneath Scots Pine. Also old sand dunes under Pine Trees, or in a more open location amongst Bell Heather, but Pine Trees will never be far away.

The flowers, when open, have three white, short, sepals which are hairy on the outside, the lateral ones triangular, the upper one cowled over and not as wide. A kettle-like 'pouring' lip protrudes, this being mostly hairless. Within the flower are stamens bearing bright orange-coloured pollen.

Abundance mostly north of the Scottish border, especially around and about Inverness, but there are pockets in Norfolk, Cumbria and the North Pennines.

Smells sickly.