Bletilla variegated - Hyacinth Orchid

Bletilla striata 'Variegated' is a variegated hyacinth orchid with cream-white foliage and mauve flowers. Rare in cultivation, this garden orchid is hardy and relatively easy to grow in partial shade, in well-drained soil. This elegant and colourful variety is delightful in borders and containers. Bletilla striata is known to be much less demanding than most garden orchids.

Bletilla striata 'Variegated' belongs to the Orchidaceae family. The species, with pink flowers and green foliage, is native to Asia, particularly China and Japan. It naturally occurs in moist meadows and clear forests. This garden orchid forms compact clumps thanks to its pseudobulbs, which produce new shoots every year. Its growth is moderate, with the plant reaching about 30-40 cm in height at maturity.

The flowers of 'Variegated' Bletilla appear between May and June, depending on the climate. They form elegant clusters at the top of slender, yet sturdy, green floral stems that emerge from the pseudobulb and dominate the foliage. The flowers are mauve with darker veins. They measure 3 to 5 cm in diameter. Their structure is typical of orchids, with three petals and three sepals, both groups often being similar in shape and colour. The labellum or modified central petal is particularly attractive in this orchid. It is wider and more ornamental than the other petals, with undulating white lines on a purple-violet background. The labellum also has a finely undulated edge. The leaves appear in early spring and disappear in autumn, or even during summer in dry climates. They are lanceolate, pleated, slightly arched, with prominent veins, measuring 35 cm long and 5 cm wide. In 'Variegated', they are striped with cream-white on a light green background. The sheath of the pseudobulbs is thin and smooth, ranging from light green to brownish. The plant spreads slowly, eventually forming a more or less sparse clump depending on the soil fertility. Robust, 'Variegated' Bletilla is hardy down to -15°C if the soil is sufficiently dry in winter. Full sun damages its foliage. In colder regions, it is advisable to mulch the base to protect it.

'Variegated' Bletilla can be planted in borders, rockeries, or grown in pots to decorate the patio or balcony, always in a non-burning exposure. In the garden, for example, it can be paired with Tricyrtis hirta (Japanese Toad Lily), with exotic star-shaped flowers, Epimedium rubrum (Barrenwort), with colourful foliage and graceful red flowers, and Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost', with silver foliage.