Species Orchid, Nun's Orchid, Nun's Cap Orchid, Phaius

Phaius tankervilleae

Family
Orchidaceae (or-kid-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Phaius (FAY-ee-us)
Species
tankervilleae (tan-kar-VIL-ee-ay)
Synonym
Bletia tankervilleae
Phaius grandifolius
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Herbaceous
Velvet/Fuzzy
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Bright Yellow
Maroon/Burgundy
Brown/Bronze
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Deatsville, Alabama

Bartow, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Bokeelia, Florida

Bradley, Florida

Brandon, Florida

Brooksville, Florida(2 reports)

Daytona Beach, Florida

Deland, Florida

Floral City, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Meade, Florida

Fort White, Florida

Frostproof, Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)

Keystone Heights, Florida

Lake Wales, Florida

Leesburg, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Lynn Haven, Florida

Miami, Florida(2 reports)

Milton, Florida

Nokomis, Florida

North Fort Myers, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Odessa, Florida

Orlando, Florida(2 reports)

Panama City, Florida

Panama City Beach, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida

Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Sebastian, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Seffner, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Shalimar, Florida

Tallahassee, Florida

Wellborn, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Yulee, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida(2 reports)

Waycross, Georgia

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gonzales, Louisiana

Maurepas, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana(2 reports)

Saint Martinville, Louisiana(2 reports)

Poughkeepsie, New York

Climax, North Carolina

Kure Beach, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina

Hanover, Pennsylvania

Columbia, South Carolina

Beaumont, Texas

Brazoria, Texas

Conroe, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

Freeport, Texas

Houston, Texas(3 reports)

Humble, Texas(2 reports)

Port Arthur, Texas

Richmond, Texas

Santa Fe, Texas

Sealy, Texas

Spring, Texas

Tomball, Texas

Cabin Creek, West Virginia

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

14
positives
3
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
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A
A
New Orleans, LA | May 2015 | positive

This plant is maintenance free and a real show-stopper here in my New Orleans shade garden (zone 9b). Sometimes the leaves get a little ...Read More

D
Pinehurst, TX | March 2012 | positive

Never saw this for sale in my area before, just found it at The Arbor Gate, on highway 2920 a couple miles west of Tomball, Texas.

T
Panama City Beach, FL | March 2012 | positive

I live in zone 8b. I've had my Nun's Orchid for 3 years and have had it outside. Each year it dies back in the winter. I placed my plant ...Read More

R
Palm City, FL | June 2010 | positive

I hAVE a nun's cap orchid and it was beautiful when I got it but it has not bloomed again. It is still in the original pot - Help

G
Tallahassee, FL | April 2010 | positive

After the first winter, the foliage was burned, and the plant slowly came back, but there were no flowers. This winter, the coldest we'v...Read More

R
R
Milton, FL (Zone 9a) | June 2009 | positive

Lovely foliage with an abundance of flowers. One problem, they appear to set and develop flowers during the autumn and winter, and then ...Read More

M
M
Plano, TX | April 2009 | positive

I love the flowers on this orchid and it is not as demanding as the Phalenopsis or catteleyas. The flowers last long and blooms consisten...Read More

M
DeLand/Deleon Springs, FL (Zone 8b) | November 2008 | neutral

Just bought two of these at an Orchid show here in Deland.
They were on sale 2 for$ 5.00 so got a pink and purple.
They we...Read More

J
Orlando, FL | August 2008 | positive

Nun's orchid grows easily here in Orlando. Also, of note, it is very easily propogated using the bloom stems. Simply cut them into piec...Read More

L
Central, AL (Zone 7b) | February 2007 | positive

Nun's Orchid; my guide to Davegarden! I purchased this plant last summer, the friendly nurserymen referred me to Davesgarden website for...Read More

K
K
Freeport, TX | January 2007 | positive

WE BOUGHT OUR NUN'S CAP LAST FEB. AT A NURSERY IN HOUSTON. THERE WERE 10 BLOOM SPIKES ON 5 PLANTS IN THE POT. AFTER THEY BLOOMED, I LET T...Read More

T
Poughkeepsie, NY (Zone 6a) | November 2006 | positive

Grows great in a west window. An awesome plant! I bought mine in 2005 and it's doing GREAT in a west bedroom window. Hopefully it'll bloo...Read More

1
Houston, TX | March 2006 | positive

A neighbor gave me starts last fall when she cut hers back. She had hundreds of blooms on her plant, sitting in a pot on her covered pat...Read More

M
Pearland, TX | February 2005 | neutral

I have just purchased this plant. I live south of Houston, Tx and hope it will grow for me.

J
Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) | December 2004 | positive

This plant is one of my favorites. It grows and blooms easily in NE Florida (on the borderline of Zone 8/Zone 9). Flowers emerge soon a...Read More

M
Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) | November 2004 | positive

These lovely terrestrial orchids can grow to 1.4m tall. They have naturalized in some areas of Florida, notably in Hardee County, prefer...Read More

T
T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | January 2003 | neutral

This terrestrial orchid is relatively easy-to-grow, as a houseplant (or outdoors in very mild climates) Will need some cool temperatures...Read More

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