About
This small deciduous perennial to around 15cm high, producing round pseudobulbs, each with a single, folded, lance-shaped leaf to 14cm long. Solitary lilac-pink flowers, with white or pink lips spotted with pale brown or purple, are produced on short stems in spring.
About the genus
Pleione are deciduous orchids with pseudobulbs each bearing one or two lance-shaped leaves and mostly solitary flowers to 8cm across, on short stems
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Rock garden
Native toC China to SE Tibet
Care notes
CultivationMay be grown outdoors in frost-free environment, or in a shallow container filled with orchid compost, indoors in a cool place in filtered light. Water lightly in spring when new growth appears, and freely in summer until leaves die down; keep dry over winter. Re-pot annually before flowering, discarding old pseudobulbs
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division of pseudobulbs
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free