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Eulophia picta

Shepherd's crook orchid

Orchidaceae

Northern and eastern Australia; tropical Asia; western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunPart Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Eulophia picta is a deciduous terrestrial orchid growing 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall from an underground pseudobulb. It produces a few broad, pleated, soft green leaves 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) long that emerge with or after the flowers and die back in the dry season. The flowering stem arches over at the tip into a shepherd's crook shape, carrying a dense cluster of nodding pink to mauve flowers, each 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) across, with a paler lip marked with deeper veins. Flowering occurs in summer, and the stem straightens as the seed capsules develop. The pseudobulb stores water and food, letting the plant survive a dry dormant season underground. Growth is seasonal, with leaves and flowers in the warm wet months and dormancy in the cool dry months. The plant needs warmth and a distinct dry rest, and rots if kept wet while dormant.

Native Range

Native to northern and eastern Australia, including Queensland and the Northern Territory, and more widely through tropical Asia and the western Pacific. Grows in open forest, woodland, and grassy areas on well-drained soils in seasonally wet, warm climates.

Suggested Uses

Grown by orchid enthusiasts in pots and in warm, frost-free native and tropical gardens with a dry winter rest. Planted in well-drained beds or containers where the seasonal wet-dry cycle can be managed. It is not suited to cold or wet-winter climates without protection.

How to Identify

Identified by the flowering stem that bends over at the tip into a shepherd's crook, holding a dense head of nodding pink to mauve flowers. The broad, pleated, soft green leaves rise from an underground pseudobulb and are present mainly in the wet season. The crook-shaped stem and nodding flower head separate it from upright-stemmed terrestrial orchids.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread8" - 1'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink

purple

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Summer

Flowers in summer, during the warm, wet part of the year. The flower head opens over 2-3 weeks while the stem is still curved. After flowering the stem straightens as seed capsules form, and the leaves follow or overlap the bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to mauve

Foliage Description

soft green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade

Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in warm climates in well-drained soil with a seasonal cycle of wet summers and dry winters. The pseudobulb is kept dry during winter dormancy, as wet conditions during rest cause rot. Regular water and warmth suit the summer growing and flowering season. The plant grows in dappled light to part shade rather than harsh full sun. It is frost-tender and is grown under cover in cool climates. Slugs and snails can damage the soft emerging leaves and flower stems.

Pruning

The spent flower stem is removed after the capsules ripen or drop. The leaves are left to die back naturally into the pseudobulb at the end of the growing season, as they feed the next year's growth. No other pruning is needed.