A flower display of woodland treasures with herb-paris and an orchid

A woodland container display by Ben Preston — © Eva Nemeth

The felling of a vast chestnut in a churchyard close to the garden at York Gate, sparked the idea for this display. A thick slice of trunk with a large hole in the centre provides a perfect planting pocket for early summer-flowering shade-lovers. The native woodlander herb-paris (Paris quadrifolia) and elegant lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium Gisela gx) are a delight nestled among ferns, fringe cups and the Turk’s cap lily hybrid Lilium ‘Night Flyer’.

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Pot-et-fleur with Jacky Mills: an aspidistra display — © Jason Ingram

How to achieve the look

Container and composition

Using natural materials from the garden brings individuality, in this case a grand sliver of chestnut planted with a woodland floor. Herb-paris, lady’s slipper orchid and Lilium ‘Night Flyer’, followed by the more commonly associated ferns and Tellima grandiflora (fringe cups), give texture and the archetypal woodland look. The tall, dark stems of Lilium ‘Night Flyer’ not only add a vertical layer, but also produce near-black blooms once the others have faded, extending the flowering interest. Tucking the smaller but robust fern Asplenium trichomanes and tough, alpine water fern Blechnum penna-marina into the gaps, allowing them to creep over the smooth, wooden top, completes the woodland treasure trove.

Cultivation and care

Lady’s slipper orchids are a real treat to grow, and Cypripedium Gisela gx is an ideal hardy orchid for beginners. They require semi-shade and a growing medium containing little organic matter. We use a loam-based mix of John Innes No.3, well-decomposed leaf mould and horticultural grit in equal parts. Paris quadrifolia is a delicate native woodlander that is rarely grown in the garden, strangely attractive and easily propagated by dividing rhizomes when they first emerge in spring. Lift the clump and use a sharp knife to separate individual growing points. Pot on in the same soil mix or plant in a shady corner that won’t be disturbed. If you get hooked, try the hard-to-cultivate but truly beautiful Paris polyphylla.