Like the Cyp franchetti in the previous post, this plant was purchased in 2000, from the same source. I am fortunate that it has survived. This species is extremely variable in color with plants from dark chocolate brown to purples, reds, pinks and creams and whites. Most have the colored lines in the upper petals but some do not. The various colors occur in different parts of the country but shade into one another. Like most of the Chinese species this one is just beginning to become available in the hobby. I have some other clones that are nearing blooming size, and since most of them have cost more than the ransoms for kings of medium-size countries, I have great hopes for their colors. There is a Japanese grower who is magical with the Chinese Cyps and in his catalog there are many clones in the $1000 - $5000 range! I have seen his photos but none of his plants!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/fundulopanchax/Cypripedium/CyptibeticumB.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/fundulopanchax/Cypripedium/CyptibeticumA.jpg

Ron Burch

I love this one and excellent shots!

That is a wild color!
It looks a bit dangerous in that pouch, I wouldn't wish to fall in!
What is the natural pollinator, do you know?

price :shock: , too rich for me, but they are great flowers :clap:

Yes, Ron...price...what are your sources for these fine plants? I see the offerings from Vermont and Roberts but what about these fine hybrids? Are they your own?

What kind of prices do these types of plants demand?

The more research I do the more I find there are a LOT of people involved in the hybridizing, propagation, and culture of cyps!

Thanks!

POST MORE PLEASE!!!

Chinese Cypripediums of blooming size are VERY difficult to get in the US. Generally they have to be imported, which is also not easy since most European growers do not want to be responsible for getting CITES documentation. The easiest place to get them (in the fall, they sell out very quickly) is Paul Christian Rare Plants in England. He has nice stuff, ships to the US, and charges reasonable prices (but with the current exchange rate the cost is certainly higher now than in the past). In the US, there are not many people who regularly have Chinese seedlings (5-6 years from blooming) and no one who has adults for anyone but close trading partners. Perhaps the widest selection of seedlings - which varies a lot - is Roberts Flower Supply. Roberts grows some of his own, and buys/trades with a variety of hobbiests to round out his collection. Bill Steele at Spangle Creek Labs sells one year seedlings of a beautiful Russian Cyp macranthos. Be aware, however, that many of the Chinese plants (as you see, I use "Chinese" very expansively!) are highly variable from specimen to specimen. All of the commercial Cyp growers do have blooming size plants - just take a look at their greenhouses - but demand is such that they usually only sell to established customers/friends or folks who have other rare plants to trade. If folks in this forum want to try their hand at seedlings (I would recommend American species to start!), I have several species which I would be happy to sell/trade in the fall when they become dormant, or, if you are more patient, next spring - which means they will have to live for me in the refrigerator over the winter and not you (statistically there is a 10-20% loss the first post-flask winter (see discussions on the Cyp forum).

In response to the question about whether Chinese Cypripediums will live outside in Ohio winters, see

http://www.cypripedium.de/forum/messages/341.html

for a magnificient Cyp macranthos clone growing outside in Northern Ohio. The grower has lots of very nice Cypripediums in his bog gardens (which is basically a typical hole with plastic liner down low so that there is nice wicking of water during the hot summer months). All of my Cypripediums are planted this way as well so I dont have to water every couple of days in July and August when we get no rain. I keep my Chinese species in the refrigerator since I live next to Long Island Sound and during the winter we have long periods during which the temperatures get high enough to awaken the Chinese species, which then get killed with the next freeze. The American species are "smart enough" as natives to stay quiet until the end of April no matter what the temperature does!

Ron Burch

Ron,
After devouring all the information I can find on planting cyps in the prepared "bog garden", I'm planning on trying some plants in the fall. It sounds like when you prepare the planting area properly the plants do wonderfully. From what I read, cyps are more hardy than I gave them credit for. Though I have an interest in all of the nice species and hybrids, I have viewed I plan to start with the natives that I'm told are good starter plants for my area; kentuckiense, reginae, and pubescens (forgive my spelling...).

I'm going to check my shady areas in May to see where the best places would be. With no leaves on the trees now, it is tough to tell. I'm assuming they will want protection from noon through afternoon sun!

Thanks!

Garland,

Those are good choices - if you control the level of shade over the years (not too much and not too little) and make sure they have adequate moisture - the simple bog is a good approach - these are extremely hardy plants!

Ron

Garland - if it is any help, "my" Cyp. acaule colony is about 500 yards from a nice peat quaking bog (with cranberries and pitcher plants, very cool!), and reside in an area with many pine trees/needles as compost.