Orchid Encyclopedia

A fragrant epiphytic orchid with foxtail-like spikes from Southeast Asia, related to Vanda.

A white-flowered orchid from Madagascar, famous as Darwin's orchid for its long spur.

A jewel orchid with golden net-like patterns covering the leaves, ideal for terrariums.

A Vanda x Ascocentrum hybrid, smaller than Vanda with colorful flowers and easier cultivation.

A hardy Brazilian orchid with large waxy fragrant flowers, easy for beginners.

The easiest orchid to grow, a terrestrial species common in Japanese gardens with purple-pink spring flowers.

An epiphytic orchid with intensely fragrant white flowers at night, known as Lady of the Night.

Called Spider Orchid for its long spider-like petals, popular for its unique shape.

The largest orchid genus with 2000+ species, popular among enthusiasts for bizarre flower shapes.

One of the largest Bulbophyllum species with huge leaves and uniquely scented flowers, popular among collectors.

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

A unique orchid with separate male/female flowers that shoots pollinia, with deciduous dormancy.

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

A Cattleya species with clusters of purple-pink autumn flowers, prolific, gorgeous and easy to grow.

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

The first Cattleya species discovered, with a large lip and vibrant autumn blooms.

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 hardy epiphytic orchid with white fragrant flowers and beautiful pendant flower spikes.

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.

A wild Cymbidium species native to Japan, blooming with a single flower in early spring.

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

One of the largest orchid genera with ~1,500 species. Nobile type is most popular in Japan. Spectacular blooms along the entire cane. Winter cold treatment is key to flowering.

A small Dendrobium with vivid yellow flower clusters, spectacular when blooming all at once in spring.

A Dendrobium with vivid golden flower clusters and sweet honey-like fragrance.

A hardy small Dendrobium from Australia with pink fragrant flower spikes.

A small Japanese epiphytic orchid with many cultivated varieties, a classical horticultural plant.

The most common Dendrobium hybrid in Japan, blooming profusely along nodes, popular as gifts.

A Dendrobium with Phalaenopsis-like flowers, popular as cut flowers, preferring warm conditions.

Australia's largest Dendrobium, spectacular with many long flower spikes from massive plants.

Famous for monkey face-like flowers, a highland orchid requiring cool and humid conditions.

An epiphytic orchid with octopus-like petals, hardy and easy to grow with many fragrant species.

A hardy orchid with ball-shaped clusters of small flowers in red, orange, yellow and more.

An orchid with complex flowers in pendant spikes, many species with spicy fragrance.

One of the world's largest orchids, called Tiger Orchid for its leopard-patterned large flowers.

A Japanese terrestrial orchid with flowers resembling white egrets in flight, a summer icon.

An orchid closely related to Cattleya, smaller with vivid flowers, many species are easy to grow.

A jewel orchid valued for its velvety dark red leaves with gold veins rather than flowers.

A deciduous orchid with large triangular waxy flowers in vivid colors.

A jewel orchid with lightning-like golden lines on leaves, the most popular foliage orchid.

A highland orchid with distinctive triangular flowers, preferring cool and humid conditions.

An epiphytic orchid with many species having coconut scent, producing numerous flowers.

A Brazilian Miltonia species with large flowers and distinctive lip patterns, relatively heat tolerant.

Called Pansy Orchid for its large pansy-like flowers. Prefers cool growing conditions.

A compact Phalaenopsis perfect for tabletop display, popular as gifts.

A small Japanese native orchid cultivated since the Edo period, with white flowers and sweet night fragrance.

A cool-growing orchid from South American highlands with beautifully patterned flowers on long spikes.

A popular orchid with many small yellow butterfly-like flowers, widely used as cut flowers.

A popular hybrid with chocolate fragrance, producing many reddish-brown flowers with sweet indoor scent.

A compact Oncidium hybrid with vanilla scent and many cute small flowers, easy for beginners.

A terrestrial orchid with distinctive pouch-shaped lip, valued for muted colors and long-lasting blooms.

A Vietnamese Paphiopedilum with cute pink flowers and beautiful mottled leaves.

One of the easiest Paphiopedilums with green-brown winter flowers, relatively cold tolerant.

A popular Paphiopedilum hybrid with green-white stripes, easy and perfect for starting a collection.

Called the King of Orchids, a large Paphiopedilum with impressive spreading striped flowers.

A large terrestrial orchid with brown-white flowers in spikes, also called Nun's Orchid.

Japan's most beloved gift orchid with butterfly-like blooms lasting weeks. Epiphytic, typically grown in sphagnum moss. Proper care allows re-blooming multiple times a year.

A species Phalaenopsis with refreshing lemon fragrance and beautiful green-purple gradient.

A small Philippine species Phalaenopsis that branches and blooms with small flowers for a long period.

A species Phalaenopsis with silver-mottled leaves and pink flowers in cascading sprays.

A South American slipper orchid similar to Paphiopedilum but preferring constantly wet conditions.

A small deciduous orchid from the Himalayas, blooming with a single large flower in spring, cold hardy.

A huge genus with 1000+ species, many with tiny flowers best observed with a magnifying glass.

A unique orchid with upside-down octopus-like flowers, Belize's national flower, blooming nearly year-round.

Known for butterfly-like flowers that bloom sequentially on one spike for extended enjoyment.

A large Vanda relative with numerous vivid red flowers in sprays, preferring strong light.

Known as Foxtail Orchid, with dense flower spikes and sweet fragrance.

A tiny orchid with vivid red flowers, important in Cattleya hybridization.

A hardy terrestrial orchid from Southeast Asia with purple-pink flowers lasting a long time outdoors.

A unique orchid with downward-hanging flowers, requiring basket culture with intense fragrance.

A deciduous orchid with bamboo-like stems and large Cattleya-like white flowers in summer.

A Southeast Asian epiphytic orchid with numerous small flowers along the stem, some with chocolate fragrance.

Famous for vivid blue-purple blooms, an epiphytic orchid typically grown hanging with exposed roots.

The quintessential Blue Orchid, with the clearest blue considered the most beautiful in orchids.

A large-flowered Vanda from the Philippines known as Waling-Waling, key parent in hybridization.

The vanilla-producing vine orchid, the only commercially important orchid, also enjoyed for its flowers.

A fragrant orchid with beautiful purple-green contrast and sweet hyacinth-like scent.