Cypripedium formosanum

Cypripedium formosanum, also known as the Formosan Lady's Slipper, is a terrestrial orchid that will delight enthusiasts. It is a hardy species with a beautiful spring flowering in pink and white shades. Becoming rare in its country of origin, it is one of the least difficult Lady's Slippers to acclimate with some precautions. Once well established, it will spread to form beautiful pastel patches in shaded borders.

Endemic to the mountains of central Taiwan, where it grows above 2000m (6562ft) altitude, Cypripedium formosanum is closely related to Cypripedium japonicum. These two species differ in terms of size, colour, and flower shape, and, importantly, ease of cultivation. In nature, the Formosan Lady's Slipper grows in forests and bogs.

Cypripedium formosanum is a deciduous herbaceous plant that develops from a slightly creeping rhizome. The rhizomes branch out and over time, this plant can form large colonies over extensive areas. It develops, in April-May, two large, fan-shaped, opposite, pleated leaves at the end of a slightly pubescent stem. This stem then elongates up to 40cm (16in) in height and gives birth to a solitary flower. The flower shows a swollen lip, with a channelled oval orifice, surmounted by white and pink sepals. The flowers are generally pale pink, but they are spotted and marbled with a deeper pink. These marblings form stripes near the orifice of the lip, and are also more pronounced at the base of the petals and dorsal sepals. The petals are particularly wide. Pure white forms exist, but they are very rare. Vegetation is absent in winter.

Cypripedium formosanum is a hardy mountain plant and relatively adaptable in the ground. It thrives in forest edges, in partial shade, in light, humus-rich, well-drained soils, slightly acidic to acidic, without limestone. The soil should not be waterlogged in winter, nor too dry in summer. Plant it in the shade in a cool rock garden between rocks or at the edge of a fresh understory alongside Arisaema, Calanthe, Paris, Bletilla, and ferns.

When you receive your orchids, handle them with care: these plants produce few roots and are delicate!