Bletilla Blue - flower bulbs and perennial plants from Holland

Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' is a beautiful garden orchid with an exotic appearance. It is quite difficult to find on sale but easy to grow. This variety originates from Japan. It is characterised by its bicoloured flowers. The top part of the flower is white with a light pink border, while the lip (labellum) is a contrasting violet colour. The foliage and growth habit are the same as those of the Striata species as well. The orchid is deal for growing outdoors, in containers and indoors. This variety is sometimes incorrectly offered as Bletilla striata 'Alba', which should be a solid white colour. Bletilla striata or Bletilla hyacintha, or ground orchid, belongs to the Orchid family. It is native to China and Japan. It is also known as the Chinese ground orchid. It is a perennial herbaceous ground plant. Usually grows just below or at soil level. Grows from spherical pseudobulbs, very similar to bulbs (like most orchids). Valued for its attractive brightly coloured flowers. Looks great even when not flowering. At the turn of May and June a flower stalk grows from the centre of the leaves, which have 6-10 fragrant flowers each. They are bell-shaped, drooping, very showy and embody sophistication. The petals and sepals are arranged alternately around the centre of the flower. The bottom petal in the middle, the labellum, is heavily modified, ruffled and resembling a lip. It is broad, toothed, slightly wavy, trefoil-shaped, brightly speckled in colour. The stamens and peduncles are interspersed with each other. Each flower is 3-5 cm in diameter. The flower stems are erect, formed from a false leaf. They can grow to a height of up to 90 cm! The flowering time is up to 3 weeks.

The orchid looks similar to the familiar gladiolus. It has thin, pleated, lanceolate, ribbed leaves, with pointed ends, which resemble a small palm. They are 30-40 cm long and bright green in colour. The leaves are arranged in groups of 4-8 along a central thick stem. This plant is widely used in phytotherapy. Bletilla Striata Kuchibeni is suitable for beginner flower growers! It likes moist soils and a cool location. Thrives in temperatures above 20 °C. Good for the garden. Under favourable conditions, with hard cover, it can overwinter in the soil, but it is recommended to keep it in a cool place in the house. If the plant is growing in a room in a pot, remember that it should also have a resting period in which we stop watering. The soil underneath the plant should be moist but well-drained. It should consist of fibrous material containing fine grains of pine bark. Location: Let it be in penumbra and shady conditions as harsh sunlight can burn the leaves of the plant. Note that where it is dry, bletilla leaves are thick and leathery (this is how they retain moisture). In the shade, the leaves are thin and long. It is quite frost-resistant: it can survive -24 °C. But it does not tolerate frosts. It lives 5-15 years or more.