Bletilla Penway Dragon - Hyacinth orchid

The 'Penway Dragon' Bletilla is a beautiful hardy terrestrial orchid, one of the few that can be planted in the ground. Its large mauve flowers with a white-marked lip are abundant in late spring, rising above long pleated leaves. They bring lightness and exoticism to partially shaded borders, in moist and well-drained, humus-bearing soil. This plant is also very attractive in a pot or at the edge of a pond.

Bletilla belong to the Orchidaceae family, which includes over 25,000 species distributed worldwide - making it one of the largest botanical families today. While we are more accustomed to seeing orchids growing on bark in warm greenhouses and conservatories, there are many terrestrial and hardy species. Bletilla orchids, native to evergreen high-altitude forests in China, produce lanceolate, light green, pleated, slightly arching leaves with prominent veins, measuring 35 cm long and 5 cm wide. Between May and June, graceful spikes emerge, bearing several large flowers. They are typical of the family, with a large central petal modified into a "tunnel" called the labellum. It spreads slowly through short rhizomes, eventually forming a clump which is bigger or smaller depending on the soil's richness.

The 'Penway Dragon' variety is the result of an unusual cross between Bletilla formosana and B. szetchuanica, another taller and more delicate species. This robust hybrid produces numerous flowers in a lovely pinkish mauve, with a white-marked labellum, distributed on both sides of the stem. They are on the same side in B. striata. It is a very bright plant for light shade, reaching about 50 cm high and wide under favourable conditions.

The resilient 'Penway Dragon' Bletilla is hardy to at least -15°C, but it has some requirements for proper growth. It requires well-drained soil, if water does not drain well during winter, the rhizomes can rot. It particularly appreciates woodland conditions, meaning cool, light shade or dappled sun, rich and humus-bearing, and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. Full sun damages the foliage. The plant completely disappears during winter and emerges quite late, so make sure to mark its location to avoid damage with a spade! In colder regions, it is a good idea to mulch the crown for protection.

You can create an exotic-looking border by combining it with other perennials such as Asian Epimediums (Epimedium davidii, E. 'Amber Queen', E. 'Domino'...), Arisaema, Saruma henryi, ferns like Dryopteris sieboldii or Athyrium 'Pewter Lace', all at the base of trees like Acer griseum, Magnolia delavayi, or Aralia elata 'Silver Umbrella'. You can plant it in a pot or at the edge of a pond - as long as the drainage is sufficient.