Found in Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam and Southern China, this species variety was discovered by and named after English orchid collector 'Esquirol'. It has a larger flower than the normal variety and is covered with tiny black hairs which likely prompted the common name "Shaggy Paphiopedilum". The deep purple coloration and unusual twisting petals results in a striking plant that blooms with a single flower per growth in the spring.

Paph hirsutissimum var. esquirolei is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and doesn't require a high level of light. It comes from areas of higher elevation where the temperature can go as low as 40 degrees. When the temperature is cold, it is advised to keep them on the dry side.

I have two of these orchids: one grown semi-hydro using LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) and the other, more mature plant is also grown in LECA, but does not sit in water. My first plant bloomed well twice over two years but suffered a bacterial attack that set it back and it is now in recovery mode. I've bloomed these orchids inside under lights as well as in my greenhouse. I fertilize with a MSU rainwater formula weakly weekly for the non-semi-hydro plant and a double-diluted formula for the orchid sitting in a saucer with less than a half inch of water all the time. Since my media is inorganic, I add a dilute kelp treatment at one watering each month, a probiotic at another watering and I flush thoroughly with plain water once a month.

At this writing, the second, larger plant is blooming well with multiple growths and is shown in the photo at the top of this article. This Paph hirsutissimum var. esquirolei is particularly special to me as it came from Tom Merics' collection in November of 2024. Tom passed away that year and was a member of SOS, a slipper orchid buddy of mine and a judge with the CSNJC.

The photo below taken from the AOS Orchid Pro section on awarded plants, shows this orchid has good potential to become a specimen plant. Once mature, it develops multiple growths each year and enlarges nicely. My goal is to develop Tom's plant into a specimen like this!