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Conservatory GreenhouseHerbaceous Perennial

Pecteilis radiata

A tuberous perennial orchid to around 40cm high, with slender, upright stems bearing 3-7 linear, grass-like green leaves to 10cm long. Flowers are white and distinctively shaped, with a lower petal divided into a central elongated lobe and two fringed outer lobes, often described as shaped like a bird in flight. Each stem produces 1-3 flowers, rarely up to 8, in summer

Synonyms

Habenaria radiata

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Neutral, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S Russian Far East to Korea & Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a free-draining orchid mix in a sunny position; water freely when in growth (ideally with rainwater) and sparingly over winter, misting rather than watering to keep just moist. Keep cool but frost free while dormant (1-10°C). Tubers will die after flowering but offsets are produced which will form the next year's plants; repot in spring, discarding any depleted tubers. See indoor orchid cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division, separating new bulbs in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required; spent stems may be cut back or left to dry naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to fungus gnats, glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free, though tubers will rot if too moist over winter

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