I'm curious, does anybody know of a third source for Cypripedium arietinum this spring, in addition to Frasier's Thimble Farms in Canada, and ABirdsHome.com (Woodside Gardens) in New York?

In the alternative, has anybody ordered these, or other plants, from either outfit?

Planteck in Canada also carries them sometimes, in fact I believe that is where Woodside gets theirs from. Bill Steele used to sell seedlings, but due to legal issues he cannot sell them anymore. Just another case where government involvement leads to a negative outcome - in my opinion.

Tom,

I poked around a little more, and while I cannot read the article (pay to play) in question, Google turns up an article summary that mentions the state not allowing Steele to sell arietinum. Stupid...probably a poorly written law that lacks an exception for lab-propagated plants.

I was planning on doing a little experiment in windowsill/refrigerator growing for cool-climate Cypripedium, and I was leaning towards Cyp. arietinum for its small size, sensitive nature, and temperature preferences. However, the plants from Frasier's and Woodside are just too nice to risk with an experiment of this sort until I have some idea of how it works out. If the plants survive a season like that, I'll try some adult arietinum next year.

Since seedlings of arietinum aren't availible, and for a rare species like this I'd prefer seedlings*, I'm looking for a different species now. It has to be a plant that seems to survive pot culture well, prefers a cooler climate, has a smallish root system, and doesn't need strong light. I'm leaning towards a parviflorum, but since they are fairly tolerant of differing climates, I'm not sure that is a good analog.

What would you use as an ideal analog/body double for arietinum?


* Seedlings also preferable because I can individually pot them in small pots and try different things with them.

I'm looking for a different species now. It has to be a plant that seems to survive pot culture well, prefers a cooler climate, has a smallish root system, and doesn't need strong light. I'm leaning towards a parviflorum, but since they are fairly tolerant of differing climates, I'm not sure that is a good analog.

What would you use as an ideal analog/body double for arietinum?

No perfect match exists in my opinion. It's near relative C. plectrochilum by all reports is easier and more persistent in cultivation. It also lives in somewhat dissimilar habits than C. arietinum.

Another plant you could try to that needs a cold climate is C. guttatum. It has similar needs. This species and C. arietinum are intolerant of continuously warm conditions, preferring temperatures below 70 F even in the depths of summer. That is why C. arietinum is found in ceder swamps, not because it likes water. This species grows best in fact in the northern part of the Great Lakes region in sandy woodlands in very well drained conditions, often under Jack pine, Pinus banksiana. C. guttatum stays cool by living only in the far north or in very high elevations (SE China).

Bill Steele offers seedlings of C. guttatum yearly and sometimes adults are offered by companies such as Vermont Ladyslipper Co., etc. If you can meet the cool summer/long winter requirements of these species and other cultural factors are to their liking, you've got a shot at growing some. Neither is easy to grow however, especially in areas that are marginal for them, that is, too warm.

Tom,

The good news is that I'm not looking for a perfect match, just a plant that will thrive under somewhat similar conditions. My initial draw to arietinum was personal preference, and also because if the experiment failed, my folks place in New York is right on the edge of cool enough for them to possibly survive outdoors. Guttatum probably won't survive there, and it certainly won't survive the warmer summers in Maryland, so I didn't want to start with guttatum.

I was debating between seedlings of parviflorum or seedlings of guttatum, but your comments have pushed me over. I think I'll pick up several guttatum seedlings, place them in three or so community pots, and experiment with growing them under different conditions. If it works, I'll try adult plants of several other species in a year or two.

Thanks for your advice.

I ordered C. arietinum from Plantek last fall and received a very healthy rhizome.

Lori

Hawaiian Botanicals in Canada also sells them:
http://hawaiianbotanicals.com/orchidshardy.html

How do you grow Cyp.arietinum?

Birdywatcher,

Thanks for that tip! I'm going to wait until next year now, since I'm still in New York, and I've already got the guttatum on the way for the experiment.

Read above to see how I was planning to grow them.