I became obsessed with gardening as a boy, during the early 1980′s. At that time, I developed a taste for exotic plants. To me, orchids were the ultimate flower of the tropics and the thought of ever owning one was inconceivable.
Unlike today, orchids were very expensive back then, so I was intreiged to find a pack of seeds at my local garden centre with the title ‘Poor man’s orchid‘. Ever since, I have had a bit of a soft-spot for this beautiful (non-orchid) easy-to-grow annual.
Poor Man’s Orchid (or Butterfly Flower, Fringeflower) - Schizanthus, is a real gem of a plant to grow in a border, conservatory and looks great in a container in a sunny spot in the garden. Orchid-like blooms in an array of bright colours group over glowing green, fern-like leaves. The flowers are often so profuse, that they nearly cover the leaves completely.
Very easy to grow from seed, the Poor Man’s Orchid is a must for your garden this summer. Schizanthus will flower in spring or summer and requires only moderate aftercare. They prefer a moist and well drained soil or compost and can grow up to 15 inches tall.
You can buy the excellent Schizanthus – Poor Man’s Orchid ‘Dwarf Bouquet’ from Thompson and Morgan.