Madeira – Home of the slipper orchids

OK, the title is a joke. There exist no natural slipper orchids in Madeira.

Madeira is an island that belongs to Portugal and is placed in the Atlantic Ocean northwest of Africa. The climate is perfect for a lot of tropical and subtropical flowers. And because the people there love to have flowers in their garden, you find flowers from around the world there. That´s why Medeira is called "Island of Flowers".

Most people have slipper orchids, cattleya and zygopetalum in front of their houses. When I visited Medeira in Dez. 2010, the slipper orchids were blooming. Funny to see that all people have the same species. I found them

- in the hotel lobby (big pots with more than 10 flowers each)


- in front of their hauses


- at the big flower market in the capital ciy


- as a christmas decoration


- as a decoration of a church altar

WOW! Whatever that Paph is, it has certainly found its ecological niche!

They may all have the same flowers, but they also have good taste.

้Hi Ross,

they're all Paph. insigne types ,var chantinii, maulei etc etc
they also grow them in huge masses in spain and the
ligurian coast in italy
i think there's more in culture today as ever existed in the wild
at any given time
cliokchi

paphreek said:

WOW! Whatever that Paph is, it has certainly found its ecological niche!

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That is really impressive!!!! Jean

The Peoples Democratic Republic embraces the warm welcome of our comrades in our newest province! :evil:

NYEric said:

The Peoples Democratic Republic embraces the warm welcome of our comrades in our newest province!

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American humor? Looks like I have to improve my lousy english.

Wow! Those displays are massive!

I seem to recall that I read, many years ago, that insigne was naturalized in some parts of Mexico. Is that true? If so, how many populations?

Impressive I wonder if they give them out at the airport when you land!:evil:

Ricky said:

American humor? Looks like I have to improve my lousy english.

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Don't worry, Ricky. Your English is fine. I haven't got the slightest clue what Eric's trying to say either!

I think Eric wants to bring the Island into the Union of the US of A!

Those are fantastic displays. I wonder how it was that insigne was the chosen Paph.

SlipperKing said:

I think Eric wants to bring the Island into the Union of the US of A!

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I wondered about that too; but, isn't "comrades" of Russian origin (The Oxford Dictionary of Current English: Comrade/ fellow socialist or communist) and you've got states not provinces.

Insigne must be a total weed over there...!!! I'll let it invade my garden any day...

Hi Dot,

probably because Paph. insigne was the only paph that would naturally flower
around Christmas without having to spend a lot on heating cost .
because Christmas has always been an important factor in the flower trade .
respect and greetings
cliokchi

SlipperFan said:

Those are fantastic displays. I wonder how it was that insigne was the chosen Paph.

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Very impressive displays! Are any of them grown as garden plants, or are they all potted? Did you see any other orchids 'naturalized' when you were there?

Kevin said:

Are any of them grown as garden plants, or are they all potted? Did you see any other orchids 'naturalized' when you were there?

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All orchids are potted.
In Summer 2009 i saw some Phal. Shireen flowering in their gardens.

Here some other orchids that were flowering.

Zygopetalum:






Cattleya:

Ricky that's a very impressive show of masses of flowering P. insigne

cliokchi said:

Hi Dot,
probably because Paph. insigne was the only paph that would naturally flower
around Christmas without having to spend a lot on heating cost .
because Christmas has always been an important factor in the flower trade .
respect and greetings cliokchi

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As far as I know, they grow these plants in the open all year long and therefore another reason might be that P. insigne is able to grow in this climate!
If I recall properly I saw some photos in an orchid magazin some years ago which showed P. insigne growing as garden plants in south of France or Spain.

Hope you brought some plants with you!!