Paphiopedilum Leeanum is the primary hybrid of Paphiopedilum insigne and Paphiopedilum spicerianum. As you can see from the flowers, Paphiopedilum insigne is much more dominant as a parent. The foliage is also much thicker and broader than any Paphiopedilum spicerianum that I’ve seen or grown (see second photo). When we first received our Paphiopedilum Leeanum, I would have described the leaves as thick enough to have a succulent-like quality. However, that appears in part due to culture — it was grown outdoors year-round in Santa Barbara, California. Growing indoors with us, the leaves are much larger now, but not as thick.
As noted above, this is a temperature-tolerant Paphiopedilum, and a hardy grower. I do not have many detailed comments about it– it grows steadily and easily in our southeastern window, potted in fine Orchiata bark, without any fuss!
Interested in more unique and beautiful orchid images?
My vision to create orchid portraits emerged from my appreciation for the “whole orchid.” So many photographs of orchids focus only on the flower. But orchids are not flowers: they are entire plants and living beings. Connect more deeply with the many dimensions of orchids …
