Flowering time from Paph. insigne

Paphiopedilum insigne seems to have fallen somewhat out of fashion, as it's hardly ever found in German nurseries anymore. During a visit to the Lemförde Orchid Nursery last summer, I saw a large number of these lady's slipper orchids – though without any flowers. The main flowering season for this species is in November/December.

So I went to Lemförde at that time of year and wasn't disappointed – what a sea of ​​blossoms!

This nursery has been cultivating Paph. insigne, among other plants, for decades. At least two locality variants can be seen, as well as plants bearing the clone name "Harefield Hall".

Imported plants from the 1980s, propagated by division ever since                                 Paph. insigne 'Harefield Hall'

The plants are propagated both by regular division and by crossbreeding with good parent plants. Whether the clone name "Harefield Hall" can also be used for seedling plants is a matter for expert assessment. Here is a selection of flowering plants:

A group photo:

Other Paphiopedilum species can also be found in the nursery, such as Paph. gratrixianum, which, however, are more accurately described as Paph. christensonianum. The leaves of Paph. gratrixianum are significantly longer and have purple spots on the underside of the leaf (see comparison photos). The main flowering season for this species was already over, and only a few flowers were visible.

However, many other Paph. species and hybrids could also be found in the nursery, most of which were not in bloom:

During a visit to the Herrenhausen Gardens in Hanover (Germany), Paph. insigne could also be admired in the greenhouses:

Perhaps there are larger stocks of Paph. insigne in other nurseries in Germany?