Paphiopedilum spicerianum aka Spicers Paphiopedilum

Paphiopedilum spicerianum goes by the name Spicer's lady slipper. This evergreen orchid belongs to the family Orchidaceae. Its native range runs from Bhutan to Yunnan in China. RHS also lists Assam, the eastern Himalaya and Myanmar. It comes from a wet tropical climate. It lives for years and grows in upright clumps. Its leaves form rings called rosettes.

RHS calls it semi-terrestrial, while Chicago calls it an epiphyte. These terms describe growth near soil or on other plants. In gardens, it grows about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) tall and wide. RHS gives five to ten years for plants to mature. The narrow, oval leaves stay green all year. They measure 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.30 metres) long. Each flower stalk grows from the centre of a rosette. It reaches about 0.7–1 foot (0.20–0.30 metres) long.

Each upright stalk bears one flower. It spans up to 0.23 feet (0.07 metres). The flower has white, pale green and purple parts. Its lip forms a pouch, hence the name slipper orchid. Insects enter the pouch and pick up pollen as they escape. The short, pale green petals have wavy edges. Two joined, pale green sepals lie chiefly behind the pouch. The white upper sepal has a dark purple stripe. A white and purple column stands at the flower's centre.

Grow it indoors, in a conservatory or in a greenhouse. RHS rates it H1A. It needs warmth under glass all year. Chicago lists USDA zones 10–12. Give it bright, filtered light. Keep the air more humid in summer. RHS suggests 20–25°C in summer and 18–22°C in winter. Use a bark-based orchid mix with sphagnum moss and perlite, or crushed limestone chips. The mix should drain well and have a neutral pH. Water when the mix is close to dry. Do not let dry spells last. It lacks pseudobulbs, which store water. Do not leave its pot standing in water.

Feed with every third watering. Avoid heavy misting and do not water from above. Mealybugs may attack, though RHS reports few pest or disease problems. Cold and water from above can cause bacterial rot in rosettes. The plant needs no routine pruning. Remove the stalk once the flowers fade. Divide mature plants when they outgrow their pots. Keep at least three healthy rosettes with roots in each new clump. Growing plants from seed needs a lab with controlled conditions.