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Cypripediums and Hardy Orchids
 

For 2024 we ship only in the fall and only within Canada , plants are available now at the nursery.

This includes a diverse group of ground orchids from around the world.  Some of these groups are relatively easy to grow like the Bletilla and Pleiones and some are more challenging like the Cypripediums. The cultural requirements for most of these orchids are similar.  They require well drained but moist soil when in active growth and excellent (almost dry) drainage in the winter when dormant.  Light shade or partial sun works well.  Bletilla are more tolerant of soil conditions and require more sun than other species. Below is our 2020 listing.

 

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Fall and Winter shipping only

For 2020 we are not shipping Orchids to the USA

 

 

 

Bletilla

This is a wonderful group of easy to grow hardy ground Orchids. These are best planted 5cm deep in light shade to full sun in a well drained humus-rich soil.  In colder areas (Zone 5-6) they need to be planted 10-15cm deep and in yet colder areas they can easily be grown in pots indoors or in an alpine house.

Bletilla striata .................................... 11cm pot $15.00ea
Ht. 20-40cm.  Z5-6.  This hardy ground orchid has long, arching ribbed leaves and soft rose to magenta erect inflorescence of up to 10 flowers. 

 

Bletilla striata KuchibeniBletilla striata Kuchibeni Crimson Mouth Bletilla.. $18.00ea
Ht. 20-40cm.  Z5-6.  A new selection with soft pale pink flowers  with white ruffled lip crests that are  infused with  deep pink-purple at the mouth.

 

 

 

Bletilla soryuBletilla striata ` Soryu’.................................. $20.00ea
An awesome mauve-blue flowered Bletilla with darker mauve blue lip.  Soryu means Blue Dragon.

 

 

Bletilla striata var japonica alba........................ 10cm pot NA
Ht. 20-40cm.  Z5-6.  Similar to species but with white flowers; some with pale lilac margin on the lip.

Bletilla  striata variegated (albostriata)..............$15.00ea
Ht. 20-40cm.  Z5-6.  Same as species except leaves are striped with white.


 
Bletilla `Brigantes’(striata X ochracea)............. $15.00ea
Z 5-6.   A variable cross with mid rose-purple petals and sepals. Purple lip with yellow markings.

Bletilla `Penway Dragon’ (formosana x szetschuaunica)......$15.00ea
Z5-6. Flowers are variable in this cross but typically have purple-pink petals and sepals, white lip with purple pink margin and spot. This has turned out to be one of the more stunning and vigorous selections. Plant in full sun to part shade.

Bletilla `Penway Paris’ (striata X szetschuanica)........$15.00ea
Z 5-6.  Rose purple petals, sepals and lip with white keels on lip.  Variable.

Bletilla Ochracea ..................................................................$39.95ea Zone 5-6.  The most sought after hardy bletiila with yellow flowers Light highlight with red, purple and yellow speckled lip. Prefers a sunny spot to semi shade in well drained soil.

 

 

Bletilla YokahamaBletilla `Yokohama’ (striata x formosana)....... $15.00ea
Z 5-6.  Pale lilac petals and sepals, throat yellow with lilac markings. Makes a nice clump in only a few years.
 






Bletilla Yokahama

Bletilla Yokahama Kate ...........................   NA
Ht. 50-100cm.  Z5. A vigorous selection with light pink flowers with yellow markings on the lips and a darker pink trim.

 


Calanthe striata sieboldii.. $59.95ea

Ht. 30-45cm.  Z7.  Bright golden yellow flowers often streaked brownish red.  Blooms in early spring

Cypripedium striata sieboldii... $89.95a
Larger double eyed plant

 

 


Cypripediums - Lady Slippers

The most beautiful of all the Hardy Ground Orchids are the Lady Slippers, however, they are not the easiest plants to grow. Frequently, people need several attempts before mastering their cultivation.  In cultivation, many have success growing them in pure perlite or in pots with a mix of equal parts of peat, sand and perlite.  In nature, they often grow in bogs, but they tend not to like soggy conditions.  Until recently it was not known how to germinate the seed of these beauties, but a few people (labs) have worked out how to in sterile medium (including us now). We will be offering laboratory raised seedlings that are out of culture for one or two seasons.  These should bloom in two to four years.  We will also have a small selection of mature single eyed divisions of garden grown plants (mature plants).  We have also recently begun to sell large plants with two growth points ( double eyed Divisions).

 

Cypripedium formosanum (C.japonicum var.formosanum)....... $149.00ea ( fall only)
Ht. 40-50cm.  Z6-7.   This native of Taiwan has a large pale pink lip pouch: petals and sepals spotted darker pink. Leaves are rounded and pleated like a fan. Blooms early summer.  This species is very easy to cultivate. Mature single eyed division.  Probably the easiest species to cultivate.

 

Cypripedium Gabriela (kentuckiense x fasciolatum) .... $79.95ea
Ht.40cm. Z4. The huge flowers from fasciolatum and huge flowers from kentuckiense have merged in this beauty. Large creamy yellow lip often light marked with red, sepals and tepals a lovely rich reddish-brown.

Cypripedium Gabriela (kentuckiense x fasciolatum).. $139.00ea
Larger double eyed plant

 

Cypripedium Gisela lady slipperCypripedium Gisela (parviflorumX macranthos).. 79.95ea
Ht. 25cm. Z5. This is a robust garden hybrid and it is easy to grow. Flower tepals are a rich burgundy-red with lighter streaks that have a touch of yellow. The
large, inflated pouch is creamy yellow streaked and infused with burgundy-red. They start off yellow in bud, then age to burgundy-red. Bloom sized seedlings. One of the easiest LadySlippers to grow.

 

Cypripedium Gisela.. $139.00ea
Larger double eyed plant

Cypripedium memoriam Shawna Austin  (hotei x calceolus) $79.00ea
Ht. 60cm.  Z4.  This hybrid  between macranthos var. hotei-atsumorianum and calceolus is awesome.  Flowers are variable but generally plum coloured sometimes with  the creamy yellow showing through on the pouch. Mature, seed raised bloom sized plants.

 

Cypripedium reginae showy lady SlipperCypripedium reginae.................... .$79.00ea
N.A.Native. Ht. 90cm. Z4.  The showiest of all North American Cyps.  The flowers have white sepals and petals, a large pink lip pouch and a white staminoid with a yellow blotch and red spotting. These are five year old seedlings that should bloom in a year.

Cypripedium reginae.. $139.00ea
Larger double eyed plant

 

Cypripedium reginae showy lady SlipperCypripedium reginae alba...............$79.00ea
N.A.Native. Ht. 90cm. Z4.  The rarer pure white form of the species. Mature single eyed plants.

 

 

 

Cypripedium reginae alba.. $139.00ea
Larger double eyed plant

Cypripedium Sabine Lady SlipperCypripedium Sabine ....................... $79.99ea
( C. Fasciolatum x C. macranthos )
Ht. Z4.  Huge flowers have a large white lip with a faintly infused pink venation and heavier venation on the sepals and petals. Variable. Bloom sized seedlings.

 

 

Cypripedium Sabine .. $139.00ea
Larger double eyed plant

 

 

Cypripedium X ventricosum light (Pastel) Lady SlipperCypripedium  x ventricosum light............... $79.00ea
AKA Cypripedium Ventricosum Pastel .This is a hybrid between the white C. macranthos album and the yellow and brown C. calceolus. The result is a magnificent plant with a large white to creamy white pouch, sepals and tepals often with a small amount of red speckling on the tepals.

 

Dactylorhiza

These wonderful hardy ground orchids are currently widely planted throughout Europe.  Initially the flower stalks are short but as they get older the flower stalks get longer and fuller and the flowers get larger.  Mature plants are stunning.    All sprout from a tuber and multiply freely if the conditions are right.  Most prefer humus-rich soil with good drainage. All our plants are grown from seed that is open pollinated so expect some variability.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common spotted orchidAlpine Orchid.......very small plants................ $29.00ea
Ht. 50-70cm.  Z4. This is the UK native wild Common Spotted which grows in neutral to alkaline soils which are often damp. Can be grow in grassland, the garden or a pot. Spikes of mauve pink flowers withdarker spotting. It is a good beginners orchid as it will usually bulk up fairly quicklr.  

Dactylorhiza majilis Alpine Orchid.......very small plants................ $29.00ea
Ht. 50-70cm.  Z4. Green leaves sometimes spotted, violet pink to purple flowers. Blooms late spring to early summer.  

 

 

Epipactis helleborine .....................................   $15.00ea
Ht.40-100cm. Z6.  This is one of the few orchids that will self sow. Flowers are usually greenish with a purple blush in spikes of up to 50 flowers. Rarely pure white or dark purple forms show up in seedling colonies. Easy to grow.

Epipactis gigantea........................................... $29.00ea
Ht.50cm. Z6.  This attractive orchid of 5-25 green to yellow flowers striped with purple veins on a loose raceme. The lip is distinctly lobed with bright yellow, purple, and orange markings..

 

Goodyera oblongifolia Rattlesnake‑plantain Orchid
........................................................... 11cm pot $20.00ea
Native. Fl.Ht. 20-30cm.  Z6.  Evergreen.  Dark green oblong leaves, patterned with variable white markings, in a basal rosette.  Inconspicuous flowers are greenish in a terminal spike. Prefers humus-rich soil in shade to semi-shade.

 

 

 

Pleiones

Pleiones are a genus of near-hardy orchids originating in the Himalayas and the mountainous regions of china.  Most species and hybrids produce their incredible flowers in spring. They grow in a variety of habitats from moss covered rocks to leaf litter under shrubs, but always in sites with excellent drainage.
 
For most, the rules of cultivation are simple: Do not over water
in early Spring as the new roots emerge and once the plant has developed a root system, feed regularly with a well balanced liquid fertilizer.  Finally, a rest period is required during the winter with a low temperature of 0-4C for a time.

On the west coast many people are growing Pleione outdoors in well drained beds in sheltered conditions, as we do in our own garden.  However, it is rather risky.  The genus has minimal cultivation requirements which make them ideal for growing in the home, in a coldframe or in a cool greenhouse.  If a mature pseudobulb is fed well it will produce two or more new pseudobulbs each year.  The old one shrivels and should be discarded in fall.  Most species will also produce a small bulbil atop the old pseudobulb which can be grown in two or three seasons to bloom size.  Most species are easy to grow indoors or out (with protection) in very free draining humus rich soil (we generally use 40:40:20 peat and perlite and sand mix). Customers from east of the Rockies, we suggest having these shipped before your other plants.  For those of you who make a trip to the Nursery, we have other species and hybrids  that we are still multiplying to the point where we can sell them, so a few will be available.  We will also have a large selection of the following available at the nursery in pots anytime. 

Pleione albiflora `Pinchbeck Diamond'........... $24.50ea
Large flower of mauve pink with yellow keels and red spotting on the lip.   Blooms very early. Some consider this a hybrid now but as

Pleione formosana 'Blush of Dawn'.................... NAea
Pseudobulbs green, flowers are large creamy white flushed with pale pink and lip is marked yellow and brown.

 

                                          Pleione Hybrids

Pleione Barcena............................................... $24.00ea
(P. formosana x P. praecox) This hybrid has deep pink flowers with deep yellow and red throat markings.   Blooms in late fall or early winter. Very reliable bloomer.

 

Pleione Tolima (P.speciosa X P.formosana)............... $16.00ea
A variable cross with mauve pink to very rose-purple flowers and the lip is most often marked with red and yellow. Usually two flowers per stem and often fragrant. One of the best.

Pleione Vesuvius( P.bulbocodioides X P. X confusa)................... NA Large flowers of dark pink to mauve, lips are well frilled and speckled and spotted with dark pink or red.  Most clones have yellow throat and many are fragrant.  This is one of the showiest and the easiest one to grow. A reliable doer.

Pleione `Volcanello'......................................... $14.00ea
(P. Soufrière x P.bulbocodioides) Purple-pink  flowers with a red spotted lip and bright yellow keels.  

 

 

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