Calanthe 2014

[reifuan]

Calanthe sieboldii is the first Calanthe in flower for me this year. Actually, it is every year, this one always starts growing really early.  I  keep it outside on a north-facing balcony.
Thanks to the exceptionally mild winter, the flower buds emerged before new year. When they started  opening last week, I moved it inside to better enjoy its delicous fragrance.

[Sempervivum]

Fine flower, reifuan! I have the same species and wonder wheter I can put it outside already. Paul Christian, I bought it from him, writes in his shop that it is quite frost hardy. However, the leaves have already emerged and I'm wondering whether they can bear frost too. Currently there is only some degrees below zero in my region but it's not impossible that there will be stronger frost.
Any advice is welcome.
Best regards - Ulrich

[reifuan]

they really are quite hardy, but unfortunately, new growth isn't.  In my experience, a few degrees frost can be enough to blacken the inflorescence and damage developing leaves. This goes especially for large-leaved species like sieboldii and hancockii. After a spring freeze on April 1st 2012, a few of my plants looked as if someone had used a blowtorch on them. This is why it's  probably best to grow even the hardiest Calanthe in a sheltered spot. My advice would be to keep your plant inside until the leaves have fully developed and the chance of frost has passed.

[Sempervivum]

Hallo reifuan,
thank you for this explanation. I will keep them inside till may.
Regards - Ulrich

[reifuan]

now in flower:
Calanthe tricarinata

it's still a bit smal (30cm), but it had only a single growth last year with 5 flowers, so I guess I'm making progress. Never noticed it before, but the flowers have a tart scent, like rhubarb or sorrel.

Calanthe hybrid

This one is sweetly fragrant, especially in the mornings.
I bought this plant last weekend at the rock garden fair at the Utrecht Botanic gardens.
Apparently, Garden Orchid (Cyps for the masses!) is selling a mix of Calanthe hybrids as a limited edition. I haven't seen any of these pop up at the garden centres yet though. Then again I haven't seen any of their Cypripediums yet either, when last year, they were everywhere.

[SteveC2]

Apparently, Garden Orchid (Cyps for the masses!) is selling a mix of Calanthe hybrids as a limited edition.

Jeff at Laneside has had these since last September.  I believe they came to Europe from Shikoku Gardens in 2010 and have been grown on.  When I first saw them I thought that they were big healthy plants, but now that they are in flower they look even better.  Last week at the London Orchid Show they were flying off the stand and I am sure that they will do the same this week at Harrogate.
Photo shows three plants. a tricarinata which I have raised from a tiny division, a Takane hybrid which again I have raised from a small division, and what I refer to as my Laneside Giant.  Plus a close up of my giant.  If you like Calanthe these have got to be worth a look.

Giant on left, tricarinata in centre, Takane on right.
it will however be interesting to see if I can duplicate the kind of growth that "Garden Orchids" have achieved.
And yes the scent is quite strong.

[reifuan]

I'd say your plants look big and healthy as well, Steve. Do you keep them outside or under glass? Most Calanthe seem to like it hot during during the summer. Only my brevicornu, tricarinata and reflexa do not seem to need a long warm growing season to flower well. By the way, how big is your Laneside Giant exactly?

[Tony Willis]

All very nice. So far I have been unable to flower sieboldi and I do not grow any hybrids which appear lovely.

My first one in flower Calanthe tricarinata which I got from Japan last year and so it is still small.

[SteveC2]

.Do you keep them outside or under glass? Most Calanthe seem to like it hot during during the summer. Only my brevicornu, tricarinata and reflexa do not seem to need a long warm growing season to flower well.

Tricarinata, brevicornu and the Takane hybrids seem quite happy outside from now until the autumn, then go under the bench in the greenhouse for the winter.  Like you I find discolor and sieboldii like it warmer and they only come out when it is proper summer.  Reflexa positively dislikes it hot, especially around flowering time when the buds might abort if they get too warm.
Not at home at the moment so will measure the hybrid when I get home.
I very often give my plants "unofficial" names so that I know which is which when they are not in flower.

[reifuan]

The last of my spring flowering Calanthes: Calanthe brevicornu

[Tony Willis]

three I have in flower now

Calanthe nipponica
Calanthe alpina var fimbriata
Calanthe arcuata

[reifuan]

lovely plants, tony! I especially like alpina

[reifuan]

Calanthe reflexa looking somewhat less than pristine after all the rains, it has been in flower for more than 2 months now.