Ground orchids with loose terminal spikes of pink, and greenish yellow flowers.
Order Code: 83-4
Epipactis gigantea
These are terrestrial hardy orchids and in their native habitat (USA) grow near streams. They like light shade and prefer never to dry out. A colony of plants at Kew Gardens grows beside a small stream in a rock garden, in peat, loam, and leaf mould compost in partial shade. They are reasonably lime-tolerant, and could also be grown in pots. They grow to 12” (30cm) and have loose spikes of up to 15 pink and green-yellow flowers, with maroon veins. The flowers are very complex and repay close inspection. The lip nods in a breeze, hence the local American name of Chatterbox Orchid. Mid-green, lance-shaped leaves grow to 8” (20cm). It will spread by rhizomes.
Planting instructions
They are reasonably lime-tolerant, requiring only a good loose fertile leaf-mould rich soil which falls on the damper side. The creeping rhizomes do the rest – plant them 3”-4” (7.5-10cm) deep horizontally in light shade.
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