Introduction to the Jianlan 'Lao Sanyuan' Variety and Key Care Points

Lao Sanyuan is an outstanding named variety of Sijilan (Jianlan). Its original name is Emei Meidie. It originated in the 1990s in Mount Emei, Sichuan, and by the late 1990s most of the stock had flowed to the Chaoshan and Hong Kong, China areas. In earlier years it could still be seen in its place of origin in Mount Emei.

This variety has medium to somewhat short foliage, grows and multiplies rather slowly, and blooms fairly frequently. In cultivation it is best grown in shaded conditions; otherwise the plants decline quickly, which is why even today there has never been a large quantity of it in existence.

Because its flowers show plum blossom, lotus, and butterfly forms, it is praised as the noblest variety of the four-season orchids, which is why it earned the title "Sanyuan" (three elements).

Unfortunately, all named four-season varieties of the plum-blossom-butterfly type have unstable flower forms and are very prone to losing the butterfly character, and Lao Sanyuan is no exception. Sometimes the butterfly transformation disappears completely without a trace, which is truly disheartening, but when it does produce good flowers, resembling plum blossom and lotus with butterfly features, it is breathtaking! (Strengthening light exposure during the flowering period improves the butterfly character.)