Description

Calanthe rosea (?)

Calanthes are fascinating terrestrial orchids and quite different from the epiphytic orchids that many people are familiar with. Rather than growing on trees, they grow in the ground and are found across much of the tropical and subtropical world.

After doing some research, I suspect this plant was mislabeled when we purchased it more than twenty years ago. Although we’ve always grown it as Calanthe rosea, its identity remains uncertain. The genus itself is surprisingly diverse, with more than 280 accepted species, making accurate identification challenging. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew currently recognizes more than 280 accepted species in the genus Calanthe, illustrating just how diverse—and sometimes difficult to identify—these terrestrial orchids can be.

Whatever its correct name may be, this has proven to be an easy and dependable plant in our collection. It is one of the deciduous Calanthes, shedding its pleated leaves each winter before entering dormancy. Just when the plant appears to be resting, slender flower spikes emerge bearing delicate, nodding pink blossoms, often while the plant is still leafless and shortly before fresh growth begins in spring. One of my favorite features is the soft fuzz covering the flower stem and developing buds, adding another layer of texture to an already elegant bloom.

We’ve grown ours successfully for many years in a bark mix, potted snugly in a terra cotta pot. The rounded pseudobulbs are remarkably resilient and tolerate extended dormancy well. In fact, one bulb disappeared after our cat, Sasha, batted it underneath the stove. It was a very long time before we found it, but amazingly it survived the ordeal and resumed growing as though nothing had happened.

We’re selling divisions in terra cotta pots.