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Bletilla (Hardy Orchid)
Of all of the terrestrial orchids, none are easier to grow than bletillas. These durable and hardy spring-flowering orchids prefer a slightly moist or rich garden soil. About the only thing they don’t like is bone-dry soil and full sun. If you have always thought orchids were difficult to grow, give a bletilla a try.
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Bletilla ochracea 'Chinese Butterfly' Strain (Chinese Butterfly Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light Shade Zone: 7b-8, at least 20" tall Origin: China
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One of the real treasures in the genus bletilla is the Chinese B. ochracea. Although not as winter hardy as its cousin B. striata, it more than makes up for this with its stunning jewel-like flowers. The 20" wispy flower stalks emerge from below ground pseudobulbs, and top the iris-like pleated leaves in June. Each flower stalk is topped with 3-5 small, creamy yellow flowers, each highlighted with a purple and yellow speckled lip. B. ochracea is a slow grower, more finicky than B. striata...moist rich soil and morning sun or high filtered light shade are best. This is a particularly vigorous, precocious flowering seed strain introduced by Linda Guy of Carolina Nursery. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08155
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Bletilla striata (Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: E. Asia alternate image
This hardy and very easy-to-grow terrestrial orchid has upright, heavily textured, iris-like green leaves (10" x 1") and forms a slowly spreading clump. In early spring, stalks to 15" tall of very small cattleya-like flowers are held atop the foliage. The rhizomes spread slowly and eventually form a nice mass. B. striata grows best in moist-to-damp soils. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00754
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Bletilla striata 'Albostriata' (Striped Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
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Bletilla striata 'Albostriata' is one of the rarer white-edged forms of the commonly grown ground orchid. Two opposite iris-like pleated leaves emerge from each pseudobulb in early spring. As the leaves emerge, the narrow flower spike arises through the center and then opens a few inches above the foliage. The flowers are rich purple in early spring, April for us. Moist soils are best. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01859
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Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' (Purple Lip Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-10 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
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This hard to find but easy-to-grow cultivar from Japan is distinguished by its two-tone flowers. The upper part of the flower is white, while the lip is a contrasting purple. The foliage and growth habit are the same as in the species. I have seen this occasionally, incorrectly offered as B. striata 'Alba', which should be solid white. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01860
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Bletilla striata 'Murasaki Shikibu' (Hardy Ground Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
This unique selection of Bletilla striata has pale lavender flowers with a darker lip which appears bluish to the eye. Knowing that most catalog writers are color-blind and that Photoshop (TM) has allowed some catalog writers to now match the plants to their descriptions, I was skeptical about the true flower color. Finally, my plants bloomed and indeed, the color is a real bluish-lavender. As with all bletillas, moist rich woodland soil is best, although this is one tough plant that will survive almost anything. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06948
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Boehmeria (False Nettle)
What a terrible common name for a group of great textural plants. Boehmerias are a genus in the family Urticaceae, which contains trees, shrubs, and perennials. Boehmerias are virtually indestructible in a variety of soils and moisture levels, but they are not for gardeners who haven't graduated past the flash and flower of annuals.
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Boehmeria nipononivea 'Kogane Mushi' (Kogane Mushi Japanese Boehmeria)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-9 18" tall Origin: Japan
This wonderful selection of the Japanese boehmeria makes a dazzling foliage plant for the light shade/part sun garden. The small, fuzzy, round leaves emerge creamy yellow and become flecked with green as they mature. B. 'Kogane Mushi', which means "gold bug" in Japanese, is much slower growing than the species and for us has made an 18" tall x 18" wide clump. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06776
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Boehmeria nipononivea 'Nichirin' (Nichirin Japanese Boehmeria)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-9 24" tall Origin: Japan
This native to Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, Japan, has been selected by the Japanese in a number of variegated forms. We are pleased to offer the selection B. 'Nichirin', which makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump of fuzzy green leaves, each irregularly bordered with a wide white band. B. 'Nichirin', which means "sun corona" in Japanese, makes an attractive foliage plant in the garden, adorned with axillary catkins in late summer. Relax and enjoy your "sun corona"...lime not included. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06777
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Boehmeria platanifolia (Sycamore-leaf Boehmeria)
Sun to Part SunZone: 4-8, guessing 36" tall Origin: China, Japan, Korea
We were thrilled to find yet another in the overlooked genus boehmeria that makes a great garden specimen. The deciduous B. platanifolia makes a 3' tall x 3' wide texturally enchanting clump of upright stems, clothed with fascinatingly bold, deeply incised green leaves, each attached to the stem by a bright red petiole. The top of the stems are adorned in late summer...I use the term "adorned" loosely...with floral stalks that look like limp pipe cleaners. Visitors to the garden seem quite enchanted with this...we hope you feel the same. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07909
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Boehmeria sieboldiana (Siebold's Boehmeria)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-9, at least 72" tall Origin: Japan
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The late J.C. Raulston liked to give Dan Hinkley and me grief for our fascination with boehmerias. Granted, there are some weeds in the same family, but that's like not associating with a friend because a family member is behind bars. The Japanese B. sieboldiana is not for the impatiens crowd, but for those who appreciate an interesting texture in the garden, this is a gem. The 6' tall stems form a tight clump to 2' at the base and 7' from tip to tip. The intricately-veined, shiny, green leaves, and axillary tan flowers (using the term loosely) in mid-summer make this a great bold feature in any garden...one of my personal favorites. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07296
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Boltonia
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Boltonia apalachicolensis (Apalachicola Doll's Daisy)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-9, at least 48" tall Origin: USA
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This very rare endemic to the Florida Panhandle is usually found in forested floodplains, although it grows quite well in more open garden sites. The small, grey-green foliage adorns the 4' tall stalks that are topped with open panicles of small white flowers in August/September. Do your part to save a rare native through propagation.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05317
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Borinda
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Borinda angustissima (Narrow Leaf Clumping Bamboo)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 8-9, at least 180" tall Origin: China
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The words "refined elegance" come to mind when you grow Borinda angustissima. The tight clumps of 1" canes (when mature) can eventually reach 15' and are adorned with airy, tiny green leaves highlighted by dark purple sheaths...simply delightful. Borinda angustissima was accessioned in 1993 by Dr. Jim Waddick in China's Northern Sichuan Province near Huang Long Si. Our plants have survived our oppressively humid 107 degree F highs and lows of 15 degrees F with no ill effects. B. angustissima is very slow to establish, but really starts to take off in its third year. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06571
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Borinda boliana (Himalayan Blue Mountain Bamboo)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-8, at least 600" tall Origin: China
We have longed for hardy clumping bamboo of Sasquatch proportions, and thanks to Jackie Heinricher at Boo-Shoot Gardens, we have it. Our 1-year-old clumps of Borinda boliana have already reached 6' tall, while 3-year-old clumps have reached 25' tall with .5-1.0" arching blue-green culms. Mature plants should top out at 50' tall, so don't plant these under power lines or airline flight paths. Plants in the ground have thrived through 0 degrees F as well as 3 consecutive weeks of 100 degrees F+ heat and humidity in full sun. We are ecstatic about this new bamboo...blue marlin-sized fishing poles, biomass fuel potential, and a quick way to hide your untidy neighbors! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08115
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Bouvardia
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Bouvardia ternifolia coll. #T73-41 (Hummingbird Flower)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 24" tall Origin: Mexico
"Wow, whaas dat?"...The common reaction from garden visitors in late summer as they walk up to our clump of bouvardia. Amazingly, many folks are not familiar with bouvardia as a garden perennial...notwithstanding its recent rise in popularity as a cut flower. This Mexican seed collection from the folks at Yucca Do comes from 2460' elevation in the Hidalgo province town of Tamazunchale...bless you! In our garden, bouvardia awakens in very late spring and forms a small clump of 2' tall shoots, clothed with small linear leaves. Beginning in midsummer and continuing until fall, the plants are topped with flat flower clusters of brilliant orange-red flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04943
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