Cypripedium Kentuckiense courtesy White Flower Farm.
The key to growing hardy orchids successfully in the garden is to start with a mature plant and provide well-drained soil and the proper lighting. Some of the easiest hardy orchids to grow are the Lady’s Slippers, which are often mistaken as woodland wildflowers. The largest species, the Kentucky Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense) produces 6-inch, cream yellow “slippers,” or flowers, on 3-foot tall plants in the spring. The Showy Lady’s Slipper (C. reginae) has pink slippers, and both the large Yellow Lady’s Slipper, (C. pubescens) and the small Yellow Lady’s Slipper (C. parviflorum) have bright yellow slippers. These are the native species that are easily found in nursery catalogs. There are many more species, some native to other countries. If given the same woodland environment—moist but well-drained soil and either dappled shade or morning sun and afternoon shade—Lady’s Slippers can thrive in a perennial garden alongside astilbe, bleeding heart, hardy cyclamen, and trilliums. Just think of them as spring-blooming shade plants.
“I have been enamored of my small patch of C. parviflorum for 30 years.” says Carol Allen, a supervisory horticulturist at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington , DC and a long-time member of the American Orchid Society and the local National Capital Orchid Society. Her Maryland garden is a testimony to growing hardy orchids successfully, and she is now expanding into the newly introduced hybrids of Lady’s Slippers.
“Some of the Cypripedium hybrids are incredibly beautiful,” says Allen. “I will be adding several of them to my garden over the next few years.” As slippers of ladies, it is no surprise that, so far, these hybrids have been tagged with ladies’ names: Ulla Silkens (purple spotted/white flowers), Gisela (purple/yellow flowers), Aki (purple flowers), and Hilda (purple/white flowers).
Bletilla striata 'Big Bob'
Another easy-to-grow orchid that is often sold with perennials is the hardy Chinese orchid. A native of China , Bletilla striata has large, purple flowers resembling the traditional corsage orchids and long, arching, pleated leaves. As many as twenty 2-inch flowers can appear on one tall spike from spring to early summer. The hardy Chinese orchid has been available for years; you can find them in the garden centers of hardware stores, at most local nurseries, and even in most plant catalogs. Bill Mathis, owner of the Wild Orchid Company in Pennsylvania and author of The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids (The Wild Orchid Company, 2005), bought his first Bletilla plants from Park Seed Company over 40 years ago.
“The lavender- (B. striata) and white-flowered (B. striata alba) ones bloom in the spring fairly early,” says Mathis. “My lavender blooms first in late May/early June, and then the white blooms later, lagging a little behind the lavender. The yellow-flowered (B. ochracea) one blooms even later.”
“Bletilla can be grown like daffodils. I have mine planted with hydrangeas and ferns, and I always put annual begonias in front because the Bletilla plants make a nice, lime green backdrop to the begonias,” says John Tullock, a long time conservationist, member of the American Orchid Society, and author of the book Growing Hardy Orchids (Timber Press, 2005). Like Mathis, Tullock had his first real success with hardy orchids many years ago, when he bought Bletilla from a mail order catalog. “The orchids stole the show the second spring after their fall transplanting and continue to do so every year.”
Some of the lesser-known hardy orchids are the Calanthe species, which is native to China , Taiwan , and Japan . Although there are about 200 species, you will probably only find a few in this country, such as C. discolor, which has brown/purple/cream flowers on foot long spikes, and C. Sieboldii, which has butter yellow flowers. Hybrids include ‘Takane,’ ‘Kozu,’ and ‘Hizen.’ The blossoms are about 2 inches wide and are shaped liked exotic orchids, very much like the sprig of orchid sticking out of a vase in a Thai restaurant. These spring bloomers retain their leaves throughout the winter, creating an evergreen effect, which is a nice bonus in a winter garden.
“The easiest to grow and most rewarding for me have been Bletilla striata and the Calanthe hybrids,” says Allen. “The hybrids are wonderful perennials, very hardy, and perform nicely with minimal soil amendment. I have a yard-wide spread of spines in the spring. They wear like iron and come back even bigger.”One of the keys to growing hardy orchids successfully is providing well-drained soil, but according to Mathis, there are some “transition species,” whose moisture requirements fall in between those of regular perennials and bog plants. Although these species are generally found in a wet meadow, pond, or bog in nature, they can survive drier locations after flowering; during flowering, water is critical. Usually spring rains provide enough water for spring bloomers, but the fall bloomers (Spiranthes and Habenaria) will need moisture throughout the summer. For these transition species, the term “well-drained soil” means the moisture needs to be consistently fresh and aerated with oxygen.
The Grass Pink plant (Calopogon tuberosus) has a very wild, meadow-like appearance. It is perfect for informal areas. The single, 2-inch flowers resemble exotic orchids but only in a very simple orchid shape. There are about 5 to 7 blossoms on a foot-long spike in the spring. “Calopogon is a full sun bog plant with beautiful pink flowers,” says Mathis. “It takes a wetland for a seedling to survive, but once it is fully mature, it can live in drier locations. After they bloom, they can withstand dry weather.”
The Fringed Orchids are much more intricate and formal, like tight Dutch hyacinths. There are hundreds of small blossoms on a spike, each placed closely next to each other, and the edges of the petals are fringed, like skirts. Because there are so many blossoms, the spike looks like many ladies dancing with their skirts swaying back and forth. There is a white-flowered form (Platanthera blephariglottis), an orange/yellow-flowered form (P. ciliaris), and a lavender-flowered form (P. psycodes); all bloom in the spring.
Spiranthes cernua f. odorata 'Chadds Ford' courtesy The Wild Orchid Co.
The Egret Flower (Habenaria radiata) also has fringed petals but only two, opposite of each other, resembling the wings of a flying egret. With several white flowers on a 16-inch spike, the plant looks like multiple egrets caught in mid-flight. This is a good choice for color and interest in mid to late summer.
An interesting fall bloomer is the Fragrant Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes cernua f. odorata ‘Chadds Ford’). Because these white flowers are so small, you really see a white, 18-inch spike. The flowers are most effective in mass; fortunately, they establish themselves quickly to form a colony.
“Chadd’s Ford’ has a nice vanilla scent and makes a nice cut flower,” says Tullock. “‘Chadd’s Ford’ can also be grown in a container, as long as you have the medium constantly moist but not waterlogged. With plenty of moisture, they are bulletproof.”
Hardy orchids are relatively low-maintenance plants, requiring no fertilizer or the usual tasks of deadheading and dividing. Finding them is also easier than you might think. Once you are interested in growing hardy orchids, you become more aware of where they are in nursery catalogs and garden centers. Although there are nurseries that specialize in orchids, including hardy species, there are also many nurseries that sell hardy orchids alongside their perennials. It is only after you have identified the hardy orchids you want to try that you will begin to find these gems hidden in the pages of the catalogs. You may find several of the plants mentioned above in the plant catalogs you have at home right now.
“I am convinced that hardy orchids are the best kept secret in the gardening world,” says Mathis. “Ninety-nine percent of the garden world has no clue about them.” As you get to know them and grow them, you will see that hardy orchids are as easy to grow as all of the other plants you have in your garden and strikingly beautiful as well.
Peggy Riccio is a Contributing Editor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
American Orchid Society: orchidweb.org or 561-404-2000
National Capital Orchid Society:ncos.com
Park Seed Company: parkseed.com or 800-213-0076
Wild Orchid Company: wildorchidcompany.com or 215-297-5053
Sources that specialize in orchids and hardy orchids:
Cyp Haven in Adel , Iowa :cyphaven.com or 515-993-4841
Raising Rarities in Toledo , Ohio :raisingrarities.com or 419-866-4241
Vermont Lady Slipper Company in New Haven , Vermont : vtladyslipper.com
The Wild Orchid Company in Doylestown , Pennsylvania : wildorchidcompany.com or 215-297-5403
Sources that do not specialize in orchids but do offer hardy orchids
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. in Raleigh , North Carolina : plantdelights.com or 919-772-4794
(Calanthe, Cypripedium, Bletilla, Spiranthes, Calopogon)
Sunshine Farm and Gardens in Renick, West Virginia : sunfarm.com or 304-497-2208 (Cypripedium and Spiranthes) Wayside Gardens in Hodges , South Carolina : waysidegardens.com or 800-213-0379 (Cypripedium and Bletilla)
White Flower Farm in Litchfield , Connecticut : whiteflowerfarm.com or 800-503-9624 (Cyrpripedium and Spiranthes)
