In Praise of Paphiopedilum thaianum

[Clark Thomas Riley]

Veterans of the forum are already familiar with this recent (described in 2006) addition to the Paphiopedilum corral. For those not yet acquainted with this jewel, here are some great traits of Paphiopedilum thaianum.
1. It's TINY. The photo shows a U.S. 25¢ piece for scale.
2. It's relatively easy to grow, especially for a member of the Brachypetalum subgenus.
3. It's a good breeder. 44 hybrids registered as of this posting with RHS with Paphiopedilum thaianum as a pod or pollen parent.
4. It's been propagated in prodigious numbers so that it is readily available at a reasonable cost.
5. And best of all, it's cute/charming/pretty/beautiful.

 

[treefrog]

Amazing! Why don't I have this species yet! Next on my shopping list! Thank you for this post Clark.

 

[mrhappyrotter]

I grow several of those registered hybrids and maybe even some that aren't registered yet. They're really great miniature Paphs. I haven't yet attempted to grow the species itself, though. Nice to hear that it's relatively easy going.

One additional point of praise (or maybe this fits into point #5) -- at least some cultivars of thaianum are pleasantly fragrant! And that fragrance also sometimes makes its way through in the hybrids.

 

[Morja]

I love a miniature paph! Have these been crossed with helenae?!

 

[Clark Thomas Riley]

I can't imagine the cross hasn't been made, but it hasn't been registered as of today, 20 July 2024. About half the crosses registered are primary crosses, including some closely related taxonomically to helenae, so one would expect the cross to work.

 

[Morja]

When I went looking I saw there was a fairrieanum cross, which is quite beautiful! I'm going to keep my eye out for this one and its progeny for sure.