Epipactis thunbergii Yellow

Epipactis thunbergii 'Yellow' is a rare garden orchid native to Japan. Its flowers appear in summer and are very showy, in shades of yellow, orange-yellow, and tangerine, on plants that reach a height of 60 cm. Each flower has a complex pattern with pink and orange markings on the white lip. Very hardy and vigorous, it thrives in moist, well-drained soil, light shade, or morning sun, even at the edges of water bodies.

The Epipactis thunbergii 'Yellow' belongs to the orchid family. It is derived from Epipactis thunbergii, native to Japan and colder regions of Northeast Asia. To grow well, it prefers sun or shade and regular moisture. It grows best in well-drained soil. It is a perennial plant with fleshy rhizomes, reaching a height of 40 to 70 cm and a width of 40 cm. Its deciduous vegetation emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in autumn. It consists of stems with 4 to 12 sheathing and lanceolate leaves measuring 5 to 15 cm long. Flowering occurs from June to August and may be more or less early, depending on the climate. The flower spike bears up to 10 flowers with a diameter of 5 cm. Each flower has three sepals and two petals. The lip is cup-shaped with a pointed protuberance. The flowers range from yellow and orange to pink, white, and orange. The flowering is followed by forming a pendant capsule measuring 2 or 3 cm long containing thousands of tiny seeds.

The Epipactis thunbergii 'Yellow' is cold-resistant. It may take several attempts to establish it, as sometimes, for no apparent reason, a perfectly healthy plant may fail, although most of the time, everything goes well. Once established, it is easy to cultivate and eventually forms large colonies. In the garden, it prefers moist soil and makes a great streamside plant in light shade. Despite its unique appearance, it has a natural look and is easy to integrate into the garden. Pair it with willowherbs, filipendulas, Japanese primroses, and astilbes that appreciate the same conditions and form beautiful subjects. Also, consider ferns like Osmundas.

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