ORCHIDS AVAILABLE FOR MAIL ORDER

The largest flowered of all the cyps, with pale yellow blooms on tall stems.  The last to bloom for us, starting here in late May into June, lasting for one-and-a-half to three weeks, depending on weather conditions.  One of the easiest to grow, over time C. kentuckiense will form large clumps and persist for years.  A native of Kentucky and ranging south to Louisiana, it can be grown successfully as far north as Zone 3.  It is the most tolerant of high summer soil temperatures.  In the wild it is found growing in rich neutral moist-but-well-drained soil.

Zones 3-8.  18-28 in.  Light shade, moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral pH.  We are offering 4- and 5-year-old blooming size plants.

Elegant rose-pink and white flowers.   Blooms here for us in late May into June starting just before C. kentuckiense.  Large plants may offer a succession of blooms lasting up to three weeks.  Not the easiest of the lady-slippers to grow, but really not that difficult if given the right placement.  Native from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, North Dakota, and as far south as Missouri and Alabama.  Historically a disjunct community was reported in western China.  In the wild it is usually found growing in cool moist-to-wet neutral or limestone soils in open fens and bog (always above the water table), as well as moist rich wooded slopes and around seeps.  When found in wet sites the conditions are highly oxygenated, never stagnant.

Zones 3-8.  18-30 in.  Part sun, moist rich well-drained neutral soil that does not dry out.  High open shade, cool moist (but not wet or stagnant) soil, with around a neutral pH.  We are offering 4 to 5 year old plants that should bloom the first year but may require an additional year.

A tip for handling this plant:  The short coarse leaf hairs of the Showy Lady-slipper are reported to cause dermatitis similar to poison ivy for some people.  Although we have never had a problem or know anyone that has, care may be advised in handling plants during the summer growing season.

Availability:   Fall 2010

Top

This is a very rare form of the Showy Lady-Slipper with pure white flowers, it is one of the most outstanding plants we are offering. These are some of the first generation plants from a very strong growing parent plant. When happy they will grow into large clumps that will bloom over a period of several weeks.

Zones 3-8. 18-30 in. Part sun, moist rich well-drained neutral soil that does not dry out. High open shade, cool & moist (but not wet or stagnant) soil, with around a neutral pH. The roots of C reginae tend to grow horizontally just below the soil surface so it is important to keep a layer of mulch around the plants. Root zones of older plants can be as large as three feet round.

We are offering two sizes:
   The extra-large plants have been blooming for several years now and are at least 8 years old.

   The large plants are well rooted and budded. Nearly all have bloomed for us in the nursery for at least one year.

Small deep yellow flowers with brown veining and long brown to black corkscrew sepals. Often bifloral (two flowers per stem). This small northern form, often called the Yellow Moccasin Flower, is easy to grow and will form large clumps over time. They usually start blooming here a little later than Cyp. pubescens with some overlapping.

Zones 3-8.  14-20 in. Light to part shade, moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral pH. We are offering 4 year old blooming size plants - most have already bloomed.

Large deep-yellow flowers with long yellow-to-brown corkscrew lateral petals.  Probably the easiest native orchid to grow, it will form large clumps of over 20 blooms in time when happy.  It is the first species cyp to bloom in late April or early May here for us, blooming over a 2-3 week period.  Native from Minnesota to the Canadian Maritimes in the north, and south from Missouri to Georgia.  In the south it is usually found in cool rich woods and coves where there is shade most of the day, though in the north it is often found in more open conditions, sometimes in full sun.  In the wild it grows in both sub-acid and circumneutral soil, and with a more moderate moisture supply than the other Lady-slippers.

Zones 3-8.  14-24 in.  Light to part shade, moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral pH.  We are offering 4- and 5-year-old blooming size plants. 

This is a naturally-occurring hybrid between the white-flowered C. candidum and the smaller yellow-flowered C. parviflorum.  The flowers have a white or cream pouch with reddish-brown veining and dark brown sepals and petals.

Zones 3-6.  16-24 in.  Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.  We are offering 4 to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

An outstanding natural hybrid of the yellow flowered C. pubescens and the white flowering C. candidum, producing an elegant soft cream or white pouch. Similar to C. andrewsii but larger, with flower size comparable to the Large Yellow Ladyslipper, C. pubescens. It will appreciate a yearly dusting of lime.

Zones 3-6.  16-24 in.  Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.  We are offering 4 to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

Emil is a cross between the old world yellow lady slipper C. calceolus and the new world C. parviflorum. The blooms are a deep yellow with dark brown tendrils. Bloom time is about the same as C. parviflorum. It will appreciate a little added lime and a mulch cover.

Zones 4-7. 12-14 in. Light, bright shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. We are offering 4- to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

Registered in 1991, this hybrid has proven the test of time.  It has that robust hybrid vigor, and is just maybe the easiest cyp to grow.  The flower buds start out yellow, then turn burgundy red with varying streaks of creamy yellow as they mature.  The petals and sepals are a deep burgundy with a touch of yellow.

Zones 3-6.  16-24 in.  Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. 

   Our extra-large plants are blooming size divisions of older plants that have been blooming for several years.   

   We are also offering 4- to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

These have the same robust hybrid vigor as the typical Gisela but the flowers are more of a creamy yellow or very light pink.

Zones 3-6. 16-24 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. We are offering extra-large blooming size divisions of our older plants that have been blooming for several years.

Inge has proven to be quite vigorous and easy to grow, readily multiplying into a large clump. The flower, about the size of a large yellow ladyslipper, has a creamy-yellow pouch with a deep red margin around the lip. The dark striped tendrils provide an attractive contrast. Inge is an early to mid-season bloomer.

Zones 4-7. 12-17 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. We are offering 4-year-old plants, many of which have already bloomed in the nursery.

This easy-to-grow hybrid sports a deep yellow pouch contrasted by long, twisted, reddish-brown tendrils. It tends to produce two blooms per stem as the plant matures. The name Hank Small actually refers to the parentage: Hank is the common name for C. henryi and C. parviflorum means "small".

Zones 4-7. 14-18 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. We are offering 4 to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

A large and very vigorous hybrid with a cream or pink pouch accented with blushing pink and deep red to burgundy veining. The tendrils are often dark, providing additional contrast. Similar to C. 'Gisela', this irresistible ladyslipper has a slightly later bloom time.

Zones 3-6. 16-24 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil. We are offering 4 to 5-year-old blooming size plants.

This is a hybrid between the purple flowered C. macranthos and the yellow tri-flowered C. henryi. Many of the plants are bi-flowered and there are a few tri-flowered plants, in colors of soft creamy yellows to light pinks and mixed pink and yellow-all are nice.

Zones 5-6. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist well-drained soil with lime added and a mulch cover. We are offering extra-large blooming size divisions of our older plants that have been blooming for several years.

The flowers of this particular (macranthos X kentuckiense) hybrid are the shape and size of kentuckiense but the color is a soft pink to light purple (darker in cold weather lighter in warmer weather) and the sepals and petals tend to be a rich burgundy. This is a tall, large leafed plant that is very heat tolerant and easy to grow. Blooms mid season before C. kentuckiense.

Zones 3-8. 18-24 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral ph.

Our extra-large plants are blooming size divisions of older plants that have been blooming for several years.

We are also offering 4- to 5-year-old blooming or near blooming size plants.

Another standout, it's much easier to grow than either of its parents. The flowers of Ulla Silkens vary quite a bit; even the flowers on the same plant can change from year to year. This is a tall plant with blooms that have a varying degree of rose-pink on the pouch and pure white petals and sepals. Requires a mulch cover to protect the shallow root system.

Zones 3-6. 16-24 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.  We are offering 4 to 5 year-old blooming size plants.

Site Last Updated: 04/05/2010