Any of the Maudiae hybrids (there are thousands, with waxy flowers and mottled leaves) make good beginner's Paphs. These are very common and often sold as labelless pot plants like Phals.
The Cochlopetalums (sequential multiflorals) are also easy, with the exception of P. victoria-mariae. these can bloom for years at a time when mature.
Avoid Brachypetalums (the short-spiked plants with mottled leaves and rounded flowers) for now, and look to try them out once you've got some experience. For the most part Parvisepalums (the incredibly pretty, dainty flowers, with mottled leaves) are not very good starter plants either, even though they are irresistable, but some of the hybrids like Magic Lantern and the species P. delenatii are easy. Parvi x multifloral crosses are very slow growing and tend to be difficult to bloom, but Parvi x Cochlo crosses like Deperle, Golddollar, and Satin Smoke can be easy and rewarding to grow.
Standard-complex hybrids (the bulldog types) are generally quite easy, though they can be slow-growing, and their quality widely varies. I consider them intermediate level Paphs.
Multiflorals are slow-growing and can be difficult to bloom - leave them for later.
There are many novelty crosses out there (which I call mutts) that combine many different sections. There are some that are easy to grow and have pretty flowers, but they are often not great. Only buy ones in flower, that you know are attractive (though I recommend your first Paph be in flower anyway, so you can see what it looks like right away and not have to wait).
Finally, the species vary widely in their cultural requirements. I already mentioned that delenatii is easy. Other easy species include callosum, barbatum, victoria-regina (syn. chamberlainianum), primulinum, glaucophyllum, liemianum, villosum, insigne (though it needs cold temps to flower in the fall), spicerianum, and some others that I'm forgetting about right now.
As you can see, Paphs are a complicated group! Check out this link:
Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Intro Page - AnTec Laboratory. It has a "Paph Reading Room" which really helped me out when I started, and I still check back from time to time as it is a great reference.
Hope this helps!
good beginner Paph
Linear Mode
