About
Ivory is a deciduous orchid to 40cm tall with oval, prominently veined leaves and upright stems bearing 2-3 flowers in late spring. Flowers comprise a large white pouch surrounded by greenish-yellow tepals striped and speckled with burgundy-purple markings.
About the genus
Cypripedium are terrestrial orchids with slender rhizomes and soft fan-shaped leaves, spirally arranged or in opposite pairs. Flowers are born in racemes of up to 12 flowers during summer have white, pink, red or purple tepals and a yellow, white, pink or purple pouch
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens
ToxicitySkin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, fertile, leafy, humus-rich slightly alkaline soil in a sheltered site with dappled or partial shade - ideally with some morning sunshine. Provide an annual winter mulch of leaf mould. If late frosts damage flowers, grow in an unheated greenhouse
PruningNo pruning required, allow foliage to die down naturally
PropagationPropagate by division in early spring and replant immediately. Some of the soil from the root ball, which contains beneficial fungi, should be planted with each division
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds