Orchid Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular orchid species with care guides, traits, and flowering tips.
Showing 20 of 140 species
© The original uploader was JoJan at English Wikipedia . ( Original text: Larsen Twins Orchids ) / Public domainAerides
A fragrant epiphytic orchid with foxtail-like spikes from Southeast Asia, related to Vanda.
© Orchi / CC BY-SA 3.0Cattleya
Known as the Queen of Orchids, prized for large fragrant blooms and stunning colors.
© sunoochi from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan / CC BY 2.0Cattleya Walkeriana
Cattleya walkeriana
A compact, fragrant Cattleya species from Brazil with sweet scent and charming blooms.
© Orchi / CC BY-SA 3.0Cycnoches
Called Swan Orchid for its swan-neck column, a fragrant orchid with deciduous habit.
© No machine-readable author provided. Keisotyo assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0Cymbidium Kanran
Cymbidium kanran
An oriental orchid blooming in late autumn to winter, treasured for elegant flowers and fragrance.
© Orchi / CC BY-SA 3.0Deer-antlered Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi
A moth orchid species named for its flattened, branching flower stem that resembles a deer's antler. The same stem keeps producing fleshy, fragrant flowers 3-5 cm across over a long period. It is widespread in lowland Southeast Asia.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Dendrobium Chrysotoxum
Dendrobium chrysotoxum
A Dendrobium with vivid golden flower clusters and sweet honey-like fragrance.
© Naoki Takebayashi from Fairbanks, AK, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0Four-shield Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis tetraspis
A moth orchid species from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and north-western Sumatra. Its fleshy, strongly scented flowers range from white to red, varying between plants and even from year to year on one plant, and the former P. speciosa is now included in it.
© M.S. del., J.N.Fitch lith. / Public domainGongora
An orchid with complex flowers in pendant spikes, many species with spicy fragrance.
© Orchi / CC BY-SA 3.0Lueddemann's Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana
A moth orchid species endemic to the Philippines. Its waxy, fleshy flowers are white to ochre, barred and spotted violet to magenta, sweetly scented and long-lasting. The flower stems readily produce plantlets (keikis).
Maxillaria
Maxillaria
An epiphytic orchid with many species having coconut scent, producing numerous flowers.
© snotch from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan / CC BY 2.0Nago Orchid
Phalaenopsis japonica
A small epiphytic orchid native to Japan, named after Mount Nago in Okinawa where it was found. It carries thick, leathery leaves in two rows and in early summer to summer opens pale greenish-white flowers with red-purple bars on the lateral sepals and a lemony scent.
© Photo by David J. Stang / CC BY-SA 4.0Noble Dendrobium
Dendrobium nobile
The species behind the nobile-type Dendrobium hybrids. Upright, yellowish canes carry fragrant, waxy flowers in twos to fours at the nodes, ranging in colour from white to pink and purple.
© Arne and Bent Larsen, Haarby, Denmark / CC BY-SA 2.5 dkParish's Dendrobium
Dendrobium parishii
A medium-sized Dendrobium bearing purple-pink flowers in twos and threes at the nodes of leafless canes, long-lasting and scented of rhubarb or raspberry.
© sunoochi from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan / CC BY 2.0Phalaenopsis Bellina
Phalaenopsis bellina
A species Phalaenopsis with refreshing lemon fragrance and beautiful green-purple gradient.
© Akasmita / CC BY-SA 4.0Rhynchostylis
Known as Foxtail Orchid, with dense flower spikes and sweet fragrance.
© Orchi / CC BY-SA 3.0Stanhopea
A unique orchid with downward-hanging flowers, requiring basket culture with intense fragrance.
© Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.) / Public domainTrichoglottis
A Southeast Asian epiphytic orchid with numerous small flowers along the stem, some with chocolate fragrance.
© Elena Gaillard from New York, USA / CC BY 2.0Unscented Dendrobium
Dendrobium anosmum
A Dendrobium whose canes hang to over a metre and, once leafless, bloom at every node with large purple flowers. Despite a name meaning unscented, it has a strong raspberry-like fragrance.
© Accrochoc / CC BY-SA 3.0Zygopetalum
A fragrant orchid with beautiful purple-green contrast and sweet hyacinth-like scent.
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Orchid FAQ
- How much do orchids cost?
- Mini Phalaenopsis cost 1,000-5,000 yen, large Phalaenopsis 5,000-30,000 yen, Cattleya 3,000-20,000 yen, and rare species orchids tens of thousands of yen depending on type and size.
- Can beginners grow orchids?
- Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium are easy to manage indoors and recommended for beginners. Place in bright indirect light and water when the moss dries out for long-lasting blooms.
- How long do orchids live?
- With proper care, orchids can be grown for decades. Phalaenopsis bloom annually and can be propagated by division. Many enthusiasts have plants over 10 years old.
- What should I check when buying orchids?
- Check that roots are green and healthy, leaves are firm, and there are no disease spots. Choosing a blooming plant helps you see what to expect and is easier for beginners.
- How do I get orchids to rebloom?
- Cut the flower spike above a node after blooming and keep in bright shade. A day-night temperature difference in autumn encourages flower spike formation. Consistent fertilizing and watering are key.