Native Orchids of North America

[Paschendale]

Anybody know offhand reputable sources of cultivated orchids that are native to the United States? Not that I have ever seen a wild orchid and I know better than to harvest wild ones, since so many are endangered, but it would be great to learn of someone who may raise them for sale.

I'd also like to learn more about our native orchids as far as how many there may be and their nomenclature as well. Any tips on where to go for that sort of information as well? I'm sure there is much information available here, but I don't really know where to look.

[naoki]

If you are interested in Cypripedium, check out Tom's page:

Where to buy lady slipper orchids online – North American sources

I've been trying to grow them in the last 2 years or so, but they are pretty difficult for me. For discussing Cyps, there are quite a few achieved growers in slippertalk.com. There used to be terrestrial orchid web forum, but it's been gone since early this year.

[Paschendale]

Thank you, naoki, I will check that out!

[Subrosa]

Hardy terrestrial orchids for perennial gardens

[Paschendale]

Will check that too Subrosa, and thank you!

[kentaki]

Aside from Cyps, there really aren't many genera that nurseries handle. You will find a few here and there, and this is the most complete list that I am aware of:
Gardens at Post Hill

In addition to these, you may also want to check carnivorous plant nurseries because some of them do carry native orchids from time to time. But for some reason that I do not understand, American native orchids are extremely difficult to purchase.

[tropterrarium]

Epipactis gigantea native to California is offered for sale in many Ca native plant nurseries (e.g. Theodore Payne).

[Paschendale]

Originally Posted by kentaki

Aside from Cyps, there really aren't many genera that nurseries handle. You will find a few here and there, and this is the most complete list that I am aware of:
Gardens at Post Hill

In addition to these, you may also want to check carnivorous plant nurseries because some of them do carry native orchids from time to time. But for some reason that I do not understand, American native orchids are extremely difficult to purchase.

I may be incorrect in this, but I am under the impression that many of the natives are quite endangered and perhaps that is the reason for scarcity in nurseries, since original stock to breed from may be illegal to come by.

[Ray]

In addition to owning and operating the Wild Orchid Company (a few miles from me), Bill Mathis has published a book, The Gardener's Guide to Growing Terrestrial Orchids (ISBN 0-9765335-0-2), that is worth having.

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by Paschendale

I may be incorrect in this, but I am under the impression that many of the natives are quite endangered and perhaps that is the reason for scarcity in nurseries, since original stock to breed from may be illegal to come by.

If I follow this logic, many tropical species are not or should not be in collection to begin with. Similarly, a known total of 2,683 plants have been reported for Cyp. kentuckiense from 57 sites in seven states from 1950 to 1989 (National Collection of Imperiled Plants - Plant Profiles). How do you explain ones available commercially? As long as given species are growing in private properties, I thought they could do whatever they want although there may be some stipulations. In addition, even some states occasionally sell plants collected from wild because of road construction, etc. Furthermore, plants growing in National Forests can be collected with a permit (depending on states, I assume), and I believe that seed collection is allowed as well.

As for the book mentioned, I have not really read. I was told that it was not that great, and AOS wasn't really happy with a review from a person they asked. They asked him to sweeten words, but basically the reviewer did not change much. The other book (Growing Hardy Orchids by John Tullock) is supposedly much better. Of course, everything, especially things you see on Internet, should be approached with a grain of salt.