The experience of lavish orchid flowers is not limited to the windowsill at home. Mother Nature gifts us with magnificent terrestrial orchids that showcase themselves in the summer bed. This selection introduces you to some of the most beautiful species.
What types of terrestrial orchids are there?
Soil orchids are types of orchids that can be cultivated in the garden or in windowsill soil. Native species in Germany include Orchis rupentris, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Epipactis atrorubens and Epipogium aphyllum. Exotic but frost-resistant terrestrial orchids are Bletilla striata, Pleione formosana and Dactylorhiza.
These terrestrial orchids are native to Germany
Among more than 900 genera and almost 30,000 species, the following orchids have proven to be so robust and hardy that they are native to Germany and thrive exclusively in soil:
- Orchis rupentris: A species within the terrestrial orchids, with purple flowers and white tips
- Dactylorhiza incarnata: The flesh-colored orchid delights with 10-12 cm large inflorescences from May to June
- Epipactis atrorubens: The brown-red stendelwort blooms in eggplant and exudes a scent of vanilla
- Epipogium aphyllum: The leafless barbeard does without a leafy dress and blooms in a subtle creamy white
This selection should serve as motivation to immerse yourself in the multifaceted world of native terrestrial orchids. With every specimen of the endangered orchids in your garden, you are also making an important contribution to the preservation of the species.
These orchids from distant lands have a soft spot for garden soil
The following exotic beauties do not produce aerial roots and are also quite frost-resistant, so they have made a name for themselves as terrestrial orchids for the garden and windowsill:
- Bletilla striata: This Japanese orchid delights in the garden with flowers that are reminiscent of the wonderful Cattleya
- Pleione formosana: The Tibetan orchid is easy to care for and, with a height of 15 cm, is ideal for small gardens
- Dactylorhiza: The orchids native to the Mediterranean region thrive excellently in summer flowerbeds
A we alth of other orchids prefer life in soil. These include the delicate species of the genus Spiranthes, also known as twisted roots. The attractive species of the ragwort genus also rival the tropical epiphytes orchids in terms of beauty. Outstanding terrestrial orchid species are the Ophrys scolopax, snipe orchid, and the distinctive Ophrys tenthredinifera, aptly called wasp orchid.
Tip
A floral treasure for cultivation in the bed is the royal lady's slipper (Cypripedium reginae). This noble species thrives equally opulently on the windowsill and outdoors. The lady's slipper species Cypripedium acaule, calceolus and parviflorum are similarly flexible. The yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) can even be found wild in the wild and is subject to nature conservation.
