Orchids are one of the most popular plants in the UK and when you see their exotic blooms, it's easy to see why. The ones that we are used to seeing are houseplants and need to be grown inside - however there is a hardy orchid that you can grow in your own garden! Bletilla, or the Hyacinth Orchid, is one of the hardiest and easiest to grow garden orchids in the UK, slowly forming clumps which produce their gorgeously detailed violet-pink flowers in early summer. When grown in light, dappled shade, bletilla is quite unfussy so it can be grown in the ground under trees, in lawns, or even in patio pots (in shade). B. striata forms a clump of attractive, ribbed, sword-shaped leaves, with erect stems bearing many violet, fragrant, orchid-shaped flowers in spring and early summer. Blooms can reach up to 5cm wide, and each has a ruffled lip in a slightly darker shade, making them a stunning addition to your garden. Although hardy to -10, we recommend growing them in a container where they