Lemon Kiss Native Orchid

Lemon Kiss Native Orchid (Spathoglottis 'Lemon Kiss') is a compact ground orchid, about 60cm tall, with luminous yellow flowers on long stems and a splash of purple on each lip. It is a hybrid of a native rainforest orchid from far north Queensland, and it grows in garden soil or a pot rather than on a tree. In warm climates it flowers year round, so a single clump keeps a shady corner lit for months.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers for months. Bright yellow blooms rise on long stems, year round in warm climates and through spring and summer in cooler parts of the country.
• An orchid that behaves like a perennial. It is a ground orchid, so it goes into well-drained soil or a pot with no bark or mounting.
• Compact and clumping. The foliage forms a lush clump that stays near 60cm tall, tidy enough for the front of a border.
• Easy to multiply. When a clump gets crowded, dig it up, gently separate the bulbs and replant the pieces or give them to a friend.
• Native parentage. Its wild parent grows in far north Queensland rainforest, which suits tropical style planting.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart in drifts of five or more. The clumps knit together into a sweep of foliage with flower stems rising through it.

Tropical style gardens. Yellow flowers glow in dappled shade, which makes it a natural partner for ferns, gingers and broad-leaved foliage plants.

Pots and containers. A 30cm pot of free-draining potting mix holds a clump and lifts the flowers to eye level on a patio or verandah.

Growing Lemon Kiss Native Orchid in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with dappled shade showing the yellow at its best. It is happiest in tropical and subtropical gardens and does well in warm temperate ones, where it flowers in spring and summer rather than all year. It is frost tender, so in frost-prone districts grow it in a pot and shelter it through winter.

Soil. Well-drained soil is the rule. It may cope with seasonally wet ground and sunny creek banks, but it should not sit in standing water, so lift heavy soil with compost and a slightly raised bed.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, which takes around 12 weeks. After that, give it extra water in dry periods and feed monthly with a dilute liquid fertiliser for the longest flowering and the lushest new growth.

Pruning. Very little. Cut off spent flower stems and tatty leaves, and divide congested clumps when they outgrow their space.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lemon Kiss Native Orchid as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small clump of leaves on arrival rather than a plant in full flower, and allow a season of growth for the clump to fill out before the flower display builds.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Orchid care and maintenance guide
• More tropical plants for warm gardens
• Plants for partial shade
• Plants that suit pots and containers

Common questions

Is it really a native orchid?

It is a hybrid of a rainforest ground orchid native to far north Queensland, so its parentage is Australian, though the plant itself is a garden hybrid.

Can I grow it outside the tropics?

Yes. In cooler parts of the country it flowers through spring and summer instead of all year. It is frost tender, so in cold districts keep it in a pot and bring it under cover for winter.

How do I get more plants?

Divide the clump. When it gets too large, dig it up, gently separate the bulbs and replant them elsewhere. It is the easiest way to spread it through a garden.