General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 36 inches to 48 inches
Plant Spread: 36 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Brown
Other: Rusty Reddish Brown with purplish lip
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Bulb
Uses: Cut Flower
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Division
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Nun's Cap Orchid
  • Nun's Orchid
  • Chinese Ground Orchid
  • Red Crane Orchid
  • Swamp lily
  • Veiled Nun Orch
  • Orchid
  • Southern Swamp Orchid
  • Lesser Swamp Orchid
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Calanthe tankervilleae
  • Synonym: Phaius tankervilleae
  • Synonym: Phaius antoninae
  • Synonym: Phaius australis
  • Synonym: Phaius australis var. australis
  • Synonym: Phaius australis var. bernaysii
  • Synonym: Phaius baolocensis
Also sold as:
  • Phaius grandiflorus

Photo Gallery
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2019-03-02
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b Date: 2021-04-08 At peak blooming 9b
Location: Sebastian, Florida Date: 2022-04-29
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden 2004 Orchid Show Date: 2004-02-13 Phaius tankervilleae
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2019-01-27
Location: Houston area Date: 2019-03-25 look inside for the little nun!
Date: 2012-03-01 Close up of buds
Location: Orlando, FL zone 9b Date: 2020-03-22 Plant in full bloom Leu Gardens Orlando FL
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2019-01-27
Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia, US Date: 2020-02-26
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden 2004 Orchid Show Date: 2004-02-18 Phaius tankervilleae
Location: Lakeland FL Date: 2015-03-29 Nun's Cap orchid
Date: 2010-03-06
Date: c. 1852 illustration of Phaius tankervilleæ as P. grandifolius var. supe
Location: Sebastian, Florida Date: 2022-07-29 Close up of pod and dust like seeds.
Location: Summeville, SC Dichorisandra thyrsiflora flower stalks
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2019-02-27
Date: April 6, 2011
Location: Sydney Australia Date: 2019-09-23 Waiting for first bloom
Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia, US Date: 2020-02-26
Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia, US Date: 2020-02-26
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Date: 2013-03-21
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden 2004 Orchid Show Date: 2004-02-18 Phaius tankervilleae
Location: DeLand, FL Date: 2010-03-04 Phaius Tancarvilleae - Nun's Orchid
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Date: 2015-03-29
Location: Bronx NY Date: April 2013 NY Botanical Gardens Orchid Show
Date: 2010-09-16 photo credit: Hectonichus
Location: Botanical Garden of the Technical University Delft Date: 2019-04-15 Alba form
Date: April 6, 2011
Date: April 8, 2011
Date: April 24, 2010
Date: December 21, 2009
Location: Macleay Island, Queensland, Australia Date: 2015-10-18 This wild plant was just finishing flowering. The orchid is liste
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Date: 2013-05-05
Location: Montgomery County, Texas Date: April 2015 Blooming Nun's Cap orchid in my garden.
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Date: 2015-04-03
Uploaded by orchidgal
Date: 2013-12-07
Location: Philadelphia flower show Date: 2013-03-12
Location: DeLand, FL Date: 2010-02-23 The alba form of the species.
Date: 2010-11-16 photo credit: Raabbustamante
photo credit: Peter Woodard
photo credit: Peter Woodard
Date: March 30, 2011
Location: NC Zoo Date: 2019-02-13
Location: Houston area Date: 2017-01-17
Location: Derby,Kansas Date: 2013-02-08
Location: Derby,Kansas Date: 2013-02-08
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Date: 2012-02-17 February buds
Location: Palm Sunday Orchid Show, MI Date: 2008
Date: 2010-03-06
Date: 2010-03-06
Location: Botanical Garden of the Technical University Delft Date: 2019-04-15 Alba form
Date: April 10, 2011 Afternoon light
Date: April 3, 2011
Date: April 24, 2010
Location: North Shore area of Jacksonville, Florida Date: 2006-12-02 P. tankervilliae are frost/freeze sensitive, but the emerging flo
Location: Our Home, DeLand, FL Date: 2012-02-12 The alba form of the species.
Location: Macleay Island, Queensland, Australia Date: 2015-10-18 I came across this plant in the wild late in its flowering so the
Location: The Fata Morgana Greenhouse at Prague Botanic Garden credit: Honza Groh
Uploaded by hawkarica
Date: Sep 28, 2011 11:22 AM
Location: Houston area Date: 2015-04-28 Waking up for Spring
Location: Philadelphia flower show Date: 2013-03-12
Location: Philadelphia flower show Date: 2013-03-12
Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 3:45 PM concerning plant:
    The Nun's Orchid gets its name from its "hooded" blooms. This is a terrestrial orchid with a bulb-like root system. The leaves grow to 3 feet in length and the Reddish/Rusty flowers appear on tall 4' stalks in mid to late spring. The flower color darkens a bit as the flowers age. The plant requires bright light, no direct sun. It makes a wonderful house plant that needs repotting every three to four years.
    1 reply
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
This looks more like Phaius by plantladylin May 5, 2017 6:20 PM 2
ID question by eclayne Nov 8, 2017 7:04 PM 2

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