Building a collection of Eurasian cypripedium species: recommendations?

[Corrado & Rina]

Dear all,

We have started to build a collection of Eurasian cypripedium species, only botanical species, no artificial hybrids.

We started with a franchetii. What are the next species you recommend to keep the franchetii company? If possible, quite robust species .... we like macrantum an tibeticum .... would they be the right choice?

Who do you suggest to buy from, who has a good ratio quality / cost?

Best,

[monocotman]

It all depends on how you are going to grow them - pots or raised beds?
Species from the macranthos and tibeticum complex will struggle in beds with the winter wet.
They will need some protection. Pots are easier to protect.
Then you have to consider what medium you will grow them in.
There is plenty of discussion about potting mediums in this section.
After that there are plenty of species of similar vigour and ease of culture to choose from.
The only ones that I would avoid are the Chinese species from the Trigonopedia complex
(fargesii,Lentigiosum etc) that have very specialised requirements.

Regards,

David

[Corrado & Rina]

Hi David!

Thanks a lot .... I should have specified!

It is going to be pots with a selection of composts.

No raised beds, the climate in the part of the world where I live is not suitable.

Best,

[monocotman]

If you're growing in an inorganic medium then there isn't much in the ease of culture between most of the normally available species.
Most of the UK sellers source their plants from a similar set of specialist breeders/growers in Europe so it probably does not matter that much from whom you buy.
Quality and prices are broadly similar.
Laneside and Edrom have the biggest range of selections.
If you want some interesting macranthos clones then Frank Schmidt at 'Floralpin' has some nice ones and the quality/price are excellent.
David

[Corrado & Rina]

Thanks for the recommendations David, will contact Frank Schmidt!

[Corrado & Rina]

I had posted it in the wrong place!

At the Harrogate Flower Show I met with Jeff from Laneside .... and the inevitable happened: franchetii has two new friends.

1) Cypripedium macranthos alba (a white clone)
2) Cypripedium tibeticum

EDROM nursery had Cypripedium bardolphianum W.W.Sm. & Farrer  and I asked him if he was willing to part with it: I think he still laughing now. Ops.