Epipactis royleana

Epipactis royleana is a superb species of terrestrial orchid native to the mountains of Central Asia and Western China. It develops tall flowering stems with elongated foliage and bears beautiful deep red flowers. Very hardy, it can be cultivated in the garden either in partial shade in moist but not too dry soil or in full sun in consistently moist to wet soil.

Epipactis royleana belongs to the orchid family. Although often said to originate from the Himalayas, it is found in the mountains of Central Asia, from Afghanistan to Pakistan, Nepal, and India, as well as in Western China. This species grows on grassy slopes and in thickets, usually where the soil is moist, at 1600-3500m. In terms of growth, spread, and vigour, it is similar to its American cousin's habitat, Epipactis gigantea.

The Epipactis royleana is a perennial plant with fleshy rhizomes, reaching up to 60 cm in height and 40 cm in width. Its deciduous vegetation emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in autumn. It consists of stems with 4 to 12 lanceolate green veined leaves arranged in two opposite rows, measuring 10 to 15 cm long. The stems are 20 to 35 cm tall and bear up to 15 flowers. Flowering occurs from June to August and may be more or less early, depending on the climate. Each flower, about 2.5 cm in diameter, has three sepals and two petals. The lip is cup-shaped with a pointed protuberance. The flowers are dark pink-purple to dark red. The flowering is followed by forming a 2- or 3 cm-long pendulous capsule containing thousands of tiny seeds.

The Epipactis royleana is not afraid of the cold and appreciates sunny but not scorching exposures, where its flowering is more abundant, provided the soil remains moist in summer. Although it has an original appearance, it is also a plant with a natural look that is easy to integrate into the garden, in cool to wet beds, or along water features. Combine it with willowherbs, meadowsweets, Japanese primroses, and astilbes that appreciate the same conditions and make beautiful subjects. Also consider Osmundas, ferns that grow in sunny, moist soil.

When you receive your orchids, handle them with care: these plants produce few roots and are delicate!