Orchid Encyclopedia

A tall Brazilian Cattleya that bears clusters of 10-30 pale, purple-spotted flowers atop its long pseudobulbs, with a vivid magenta lip and a pleasant scent.

A miniature monopodial orchid ranging from the Himalaya to Indochina. Formerly placed in Ascocentrum, it packs small flowers onto stems shorter than the leaves. It is known as a parent of Ascocenda hybrids and is often still sold under the old genus name.

A moth orchid species formerly placed in the genus Doritis. It has many stiff, fairly upright leaves and an erect, tall stem that opens small, bright pink-red flowers from the bottom up. It is known for wide variation in flower colour and shape.

A terrestrial orchid native to Japanese mountains, with elegant spring flower spikes.

A section Barbata slipper orchid from Indochina to the northern Malay Peninsula. It has leaves mottled in light and dark green and, from spring to early summer, bears one flower 8-11 cm across on a hairy purple stem.

Known as the Queen of Orchids, prized for large fragrant blooms and stunning colors.

A Brazilian Cattleya species with many color forms including coerulea and aquinii.

A large Cattleya from Ecuador-Peru with lavender blooms and beautifully frilled lips.

Venezuela's national flower, spring-blooming with large frilled lips, known as Mother's Day orchid.

Colombia's national flower, winter-blooming with large flowers and beautiful lip coloration.

A compact, fragrant Cattleya species from Brazil with sweet scent and charming blooms.

A large-flowered species Cattleya from rocky highlands of Venezuela and Colombia. It bears one leaf per pseudobulb and a richly coloured purple-red lip, is also called the Christmas Cattleya, and varies widely in colour.

A Dendrobium from north-eastern Australia with arching sprays of up to 20 rounded lilac-purple flowers. Known as the Cooktown orchid, it is the species behind the Den-Phal hybrids.

A Himalayan orchid that hangs sprays of large, fragrant, pure white, wavy-edged flowers from late winter into spring, with yellow crest-like ridges on the lip. It prefers cool conditions.

Called Swan Orchid for its swan-neck column, a fragrant orchid with deciduous habit.

One of Japan's most popular orchids. Grand flower sprays lasting weeks. Notably cold-hardy. Grow outdoors in direct sun spring-fall; summer heat initiates flower buds.

An oriental orchid blooming in late autumn to winter, treasured for elegant flowers and fragrance.

A species Cymbidium with tufts of narrow dark green leaves and arching to hanging sprays of medium-sized flowers in summer and autumn. It also grows wild in warm parts of Japan and, unusually for a Japanese Cymbidium, lives on trees.