Zygopetalum 'Adelaide Meadow'

RHS Plant Profile

zygopetalum 'Adelaide Meadow'

Conservatory Greenhouse

An evergreen, epiphytic orchid with shining, upright, lance-shaped leaves and long-lasting sprays of fragrant flowers on long stems. Flowers have five green, radiating petals marked with variable amounts of dark red spotting, and a broad purple lip with a white edge

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Zygopetalum consists of around 14 species of orchid, native to the humid forests of South America and Brazil. They are known for their scented, waxy flowers. These long-lived blooms can be patterned in hues of green, purple, burgundy and raspberry.
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown at temperatures of around 21C-26C in the day and 10C-15C at night. Ensure adequate light levels, but avoid direct sunlight. Water thoroughly when the growing medium is almost dry and allow to drain; allow to dry out between waterings in winter. Fertilise regularly and re-pot after flowering when pot bound using a suitable orchid compost. See indoor orchid cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division; remove and replant old pseudobulbs when repotting in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free