Alpha Collection – 6 Hardy Garden Orchids

Phytesia’s premium starter collection: six carefully chosen hardy garden orchids representing four distinct genera — Cypripedium, Bletilla, Epipactis, and Spiranthes. A complete introduction to outdoor orchid growing, selected to flower across spring, summer, and autumn.

This is Phytesia’s larger Alpha collection (£162.50), offering rarer and more premium species than the standard Alpha Assortment. The specific plants included vary by season and availability — Phytesia selects from their current stock of exceptional specimens.

Six individually labelled, pot-grown hardy orchids:

• Cypripedium — a Lady’s Slipper species: the crown jewel of hardy orchids, with distinctive pouch-shaped flowers
• Bletilla — the Hyacinth Orchid, easiest of all hardy orchids to grow, with sprays of purple, pink, or white blooms in early summer
• Epipactis — Helleborine: shade-tolerant and naturalising, with intricate small flowers from June to August
• Spiranthes — the Autumn Lady’s Tresses: delicate spiral spikes of white flowers in August–September, extending the season

All six plants are suited to UK gardens and will overwinter reliably in most regions. Plant in a partly shaded, sheltered spot with well-drained, low-fertility soil. Full planting instructions supplied with each plant.

Since 2010, Phytesia has bred hardy orchids using in vitro tissue culture techniques, producing vigorous, disease-free specimens. Every plant is grown in Belgium and shipped directly to the UK.