Hardy orchids for the garden
Calanthe discolor: Z 7-8 This is a large group of hardy ground orchids from Asia. They prefer light shade in a woodland setting with humus rich well-drained soil. The leaves are large and heavily pleatted. The blooms are white with chocolate brown lip. These are early summer blooming and sweetly scented.
Calanthe x kozu hybrids: Z 7-9 Hight 30cm. This is a larger group of hardy ground orchids from Asia. They prefer light shade in a woodland setting with humus rich well-drained soil. During the growing season water regularly. This has fragrent flowers of pinks, reds, browns, purple, and yellow.
Calanthe x takane (sieboldii x discolor): Z 7-9 This excellent hybrid produces a range of pastel yellow and creamy oranges. This is an evergreen hybrid.
Calanthe reflexa: Z 7-9 This is an evergreen species with pink,blue and white fragrant blooms in late summer into early fall. Plant under evergreens.
Calanthe tricarinata: Z 6-9 This rare and tough calanthe species has spikes of yellow,red and green blooms.
Calanthe sieboldii: Z 7-9 This is a species Calanthe with showy yellow blooms. This is an evergreen species.
Cephalanthera falcate: Z 5-9 This easy Japanese native orchid has two foot spikes of bright yellow flowers in mid to late spring. This relative of Epipactis also prefers moist woodland conditions.
Cephalanthera longibracteata: Z 5-9 This species has spikes of white flowers in late spring. It too prefers a well drained but moist woodland setting.
Calopogon tuberosus (Grass Pink): Z 5-10 N.A.Native The showy pink-purple large flowers are on one to three foot tall spikes. Each spike is solitary but has up to twelve or more blooms with a grass like leaf from the base. In the wild it grows in bogs, swamps, wet meadows, and streambanks.
Calanthe niponica: Z 6-9 Japan. This is a rare species from the woodland mointains of Hokkaido and kyushu Japan. Summer blooming. Shade with moist soil.
Calanthe kawakamiensis: Z 7-9 Taiwan. This has orange-gold flowers with fragrance. These grow almost three feet tall Plant in shade with moist, well drained soil.