type : Flowers
sun exposure : Partial Shade, Full Shade
water : Regular Water
Plant Details
Orchids are reputed to be difficult, but the following hardy terrestrial types from Japan are easy to grow if given moist, woodsy, well-drained soil and partial to full shade. Lush leaves of most types have an attractively pleated look. Their sensational blooms often bear a clovelike scent. Plants may be late to emerge in spring.
calanthe discolor
- Evergreen or semievergreen.
- Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
- Dark green, heavily pleated leaves are 612 inches long, 2 inches wide and form a clump to 1 feet across.
- In midspring, small, fragrant mahogany flowers with a white or pale pink lower lip appear on 1- to 112 feet-tall stalks.
- The Takane hybrids have yellow flowers marked with brown, gold, white, and red.
calanthe Kozu hybrids
- Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
- These hybrids between Calanthe discolor and Calanthe izu-insularis are largely evergreen.
- Dark green leaves, 46 inches long and 12 inches wide, form a foliage clump to about 8 inches tall and wide.
- In spring, foot-tall flower spikes are covered in clove-scented flowers; blossoms come in red, pink, white, and yellow, in both solid colors and bicolor combinations.
calanthe reflexa
- Evergreen.
- Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
- Narrow, pleated leaves to 68 inches long, about 112 inches wide form a clump to 1 feet tall, 15 inches wide.
- Unlike most other species, this one blooms in mid- to late summer, when lightly fragrant lavender-and-white flowers appear on 112 feet-tall spikes.
calanthe striata(Calanthe discolor sieboldii)
- Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
- Resembles Calanthe discolor but has clear yellow flowers in even greater profusion.