Pleione bulbocodioides
A small deciduous perennial to around 15cm high, producing round pseudobulbs, each with a single, folded, lance-shaped leaf to 14cm long. Solitary lilac-pink flowers, with white or pink lips spotted with pale brown or purple, are produced on short stems in spring
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Pleione are deciduous orchids with pseudobulbs each bearing one or two lance-shaped leaves and mostly solitary flowers to 8cm across, on short stems
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- C China to SE Tibet
How to grow
Cultivation
May be grown outdoors in frost-free environment, or in a shallow container filled with orchid compost, indoors in a cool place in filtered light. Water lightly in spring when new growth appears, and freely in summer until leaves die down; keep dry over winter. Re-pot annually before flowering, discarding old pseudobulbs
Propagation
Propagate by division of pseudobulbs
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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