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Gardens of The Blue Ridge Inc

PO Box 10 Pineola NC 28662

Ph 828-733-2417 Fax 828-733-8894

Native Orchids

 Cypripedium calceolus - Yellow Lady Slipper

This is truly one of the prettiest of the Native orchids. Reaches a height of 1-2 feet with leaves up the stalk, on top sits a beautiful yellow slipper like flower.

It prefers a shady location, some morning sun is O.K. The soil must be rich and organic with a ph of 6.0 to 7.0. It prefers hardwood shade where it gets the early Spring sun before the leaves come out on the trees then dappled shade throughout the Summer. Usually blooms here about the same time our leaves are getting full size, which is usually mid May and last for about 4 weeks.

It is actually very easy to grow if given the proper conditions as described above. They are very long lived plants reaching ages of 40 or more years. If they like the area you planted them in after 2 or 3  years, depending on the weather also, you should see some new shoots coming off the main root. As the years go by they will make a large clump. I have seen clumps with 25-30 plants with blooms on them. This is quite a site. If by the 3rd or 4th year your plant is not doing much or is barley surviving it is time to move it to a better location.

The plants we are selling are about 5 years old from divisions. What this means is we have these bedded out in our beds and as they begin to spread we dig them up and carefully cut off the new bud and some roots with it. We then replant the small division and it will remain in the bed until it becomes a blooming size plant with a good root system. And then it will be ready for sale. We also replant the main plant to get some more divisions in the future. They have made great advances in propagating these in laboratory environment and soon I feel this is the method they will all be grown. We are in touch with our local college on a lab project such as this, as they have just opened a new lab. However at this time we are still growing our by the division method. The plants you will be purchasing will be well established and blooming size. Some of the lab produced plants can be quite small and delicate. Ours are grow outdoors and are ready for planting in your landscape.

In the past few years we have stepped up propagation on these as well as some other Native Orchids. However as you can tell these plants are slow to propagate so our supply is somewhat limited. If you would like to purchase some of these rare orchids we have them in bareroot form available from September thru Mid April. During the growing season we have them in containers, and these can be shipped throughout the growing season. Feel free to contact us today to order one of these rare and most beautiful native orchids. Or if you cannot plant them right at this time we will be glad to reserve you one for a future shipment. Remember supplies are limited so contact us today.

 Native Orchid List

We do grow a few other orchids, find our complete listing below. As with most native orchids these are slow to propagate and are in limited supply. If you give them the proper conditions they will thrive in your gardens for years to come. These are truly a great addition to your current landscaping and well worth trying them in your garden.

Our Orchid supply is going to very limited for Spring 08 shipping season due to increased demand and limited supply. We only have a limited number of plants to propagate from and propagation is slow. Check back later to see availability as we evaluate our crop for the upcoming season.

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Apelctrum hyemale         Puttyroot    

A very unusual plant in that the solitary leaf appears in fall and lasts throughout the winter. Leaf is dark green with maroon on the backside. In the spring the leaf dies back and the yellowish to green flowers appear on a 6-12” stalk. Prefers a shady place with rich soil.                                         

 Shade,  Rich Soil,6-12 in Tall, Zones 3-9

THE FOLIAGE HAS DIED BACK ON THESE FOR THIS SEASON, BUT YOU CAN STILL PLANT THEN NOW.

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Cypripedium calceolus   Yellow Lady's Slipper                                                                       

This is one of the prettiest and well-known native orchids. This is also one of the easiest orchids to grow in your garden, as opposed to the Pink Lady's Slipper, which is very difficult to grow. The Yellow Lady's Slipper prefers a rich soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. It will reach a height of 1-2 Ft bearing a yellow slipper like flower on top in the Spring. This would make a great addition to your woodland garden.                     

Shade, Rich Soil, 1-2 ft tall, Zones 4-8 

  IF YOU WANT ON OF THESE BEAUTIES WE SUGGEST YOU ORDER NOW TO RESERVE YOURS FOR FALL OR NEXT SPRING SHIPPING. THEY SELL OUT QUICKLY.

LIMIT 1 PER PERSON

Click below to add 1 to your order.

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Cypripedium parviflorum - Small Yellow Lady's Slipper  

One of the rare native orchids, seldom seen in the wild. Very similar to the Large Yellow Lady Slipper, except the blooms are smaller around 1" long, it is about the same color of yellow as the large variety or maybe just a little darker. They do best in rich slightly moist soil in a shady location. It blooms in the Spring and reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet tall. The plant you purchase will have 1 bud which means the first couple of years it will send up 1 stalk. After 3 or so years if you have these in a good location it began to start forming a large clump with several blooms, what a show. Another must for the garden.

Shade. Semi, Rich Soil, Spring, 1-2" Tall, Spread 12-18", Zones 3-8

OUR SUPPLY IS EXTREMELY LIMITED, ORDER NOW

LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER

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Goodyera pubescens  Rattlesnake Plantain                                                                                           These are most notable for their evergreen basal leaves, which are streaked with white veins. Blooms in the spring with a white spike flower about 6-12 in. tall. Needs to be in full shade with rich soil, which is moist but well drained. Works well in north facing gardens where the soil stays cool.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, 6-12 in Tall, Zones 3-8

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Platanthera ciliaris       (Habenaria ciliaris)   Yellow Fringed Orchid                                                

Called the yellow-fringed orchid although the flowers are orange with fringed tips. Blooms late summer to fall reaching a height of 12-18 in.. Will grow in varied conditions, rich or clay soil, wet or dry soil. Its main requirement is a very acid soil with a pH of 4.0 to 4.5                                

Sun to Shade, Acid Soil, 12-18 in Tall, Zones 5-9 

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Galearis spectabilis   (Orchis spectabilis)    Showy  Orchid                                                                      

A small plant reaching a height of 6-12 in.. Has glossy green basal leaves. Flowers are a short raceme, violet purple with white lips, blooming in the spring. Prefers shade and rich soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, moist but well drained.                                                                                    

Shade, Moist Rich Soil, 4-10 in Tall, Zones 4-7

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Spiranthes cernua     Nodding Ladies'-Tresses                                                                                      These have a spike of slightly fragrant white flowers appearing in the fall on a 12-18 in. stalk. The leaves are narrow and mainly around the base. The soil should be wet to slightly moist and acid.

Sun - Semi, Moist Soil, 12-18 in Tall, Zones 4-8

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