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Alpine RockeryHerbaceous Perennial

Cypripedium calceolus × macranthos

A hardy, terrestrial orchid with soft, folded bright green leaves and purple-brown-yellow flowers with twisted petals on upright stems, appearing in late spring to early summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–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)

Botanical details

Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile, leafy, humus-rich slightly alkaline soil in a sheltered site with dappled or partial shade. Provide an annual winter mulch of leaf mould. Suits a shady rock garden or woodland garden

Propagation

Propagate by division in early or mid-spring and replant immediately. Some of the soil from the root ball, which contains beneficial fungi, should be planted with each division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Rock garden
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required, allow foliage to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and orchid scale insect

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds

Get involved

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