Each year the first ladyslipper orchid to bloom in our garden is a hybrid, Cypripedium Gisela, which just barely opens before the yellow ladyslippers. Gisela is from a cross between our native Cypripedium parviflora, the yellow ladyslipper, and Cypripedium macranthos, a native of Japan. The former has brownish-yellow tepals, and a yellow pouch with brownish-burgundy spots, and the latter is bright burgundy. Gisela reflects both its parents, with burgundy tepals and a very light creamy yellow pouch. Gisela is said to be perhaps the single easiest cypripedium to grow... realizing "easy" is a relatve thing with ladyslippers... I wouldn't try to plop Gisela in the mixed perennial border.
Absolutely spectacular Don. The cost of Cypripediums keeps me from attempting to grow them (what if I planted them in an unfavorable location and they die)and you really should have a woodland environment...and the fact that some of them are endangered because of over-collecting. I'll just have to swing by your site to get my C. Gisela fix.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers ... ladyslippers. We have a conservation area here w/ thousands of showy lady's slipper orchids (16,000) ... it's an amazing sight.
ReplyDelete*drool*
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could keep such a beauty outside. I'd be afraid something would happen to it! That is GORGEOUS!
Ladyslippers ARE touchy... I've tried to be very careful to buy only lab propagated cyps (no problem with a hybrid), and take good care of them.
ReplyDeleteOlivia... wow! I'd love to see 16,000 showy's.
Don
Here's the link: Purdon Conservation Area
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteDon
Very nice! I manage to grow the yellow ladyslipper, and I bought a showy last fall...hope it comes up!
ReplyDeleteLisa... showy orchis? They grow wild all over our woods, and seed into my flower beds in clumps. i know... what a problem to have!
ReplyDeletedon
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