Pleione Shantung gx 'Muriel Harberd'

RHS Plant Profile

Indian crocus Shantung gx 'Muriel Harberd'

RHS 2003

Alpine Rockery Conservatory Greenhouse

'Muriel Harberd' is a deciduous perennial to 15cm in height, with dark green pseudobulbs, each bearing a single lance-shaped leaf and 1 or 2 very pale yellow flowers 8cm in width, tinged pale pink; lip yellow, marked with orange

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: 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): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Pleione are deciduous orchids with pseudobulbs each bearing one or two lance-shaped leaves and mostly solitary flowers to 8cm across, on short stems
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a shallow container filled with orchid compost, indoors in a cool place. Only water when new growth appears

Propagation

Propagate by division of pseudobulbs

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and mealybugs may be a problem

Diseases

Generally disease-free