Ghost Orchid in an Ice Rink

A blooming Ghost Orchid is a very rare sight, so imagine my surprise when I spotted this beautiful specimen in an ice rink. Made famous with the bestselling book The Orchid Thief and the movie Adaptation, Ghost Orchids are rare in the wild, tough to grow, and uncommon in cultivation. It’s the holy grail for orchid geeks like me. I’d never seen one in bloom at any orchid show, botanical garden, or greenhouse, so it was quite an unexpected discovery last weekend at the Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show in Erie.

Ghost Orchid flower with roots in backgroundGhost Orchid flower close upGhost Orchid flower with roots in background

This Ghost Orchid was part of an exhibit by Kim and Edgar Stehli of Windswept in Time Orchids. They’re located in Broadview Heights, Ohio, and can be reached by phone for sales at 440-838-5757. Ghost Orchids amaze with their stunning, fragrant white flowers and lack of leaves. They grow by using chlorophyll in their roots. Some of these photos show the greenish-white tangle of roots dangling behind the exotic flower. Ghost Orchids are native to swamps and coastal forests in South Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba.

Ghost Orchid flower and rootsGhost Orchid flower and rootsGhost Orchid flower and roots

I’ll post more photos from Erie soon, but this remarkable bloom is my choice as the highlight of the show held in an ice rink. Even if I’m lucky enough to see another Ghost Orchid flower again, I’ll bet it won’t be so close to a Zamboni.

Explore posts in the same categories: Books, Events, Fragrant Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers

Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
AddThis Feed Button

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

10 Comments on “Ghost Orchid in an Ice Rink”

  1. MayaRL Says:

    They look just like people dancing! It’s a very pretty flower.

  2. dkchristi Says:

    You may also want to add another book to your ghost orchid stories, Ghost Orchid, a recent release by D.K.Christi, the only novel about the surprise blooming of the only ghost orchid ever discovered in Blair Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary at the edge of the Everglades. D.K. Christi followed the bloomings every summer, on a daily basis until she finished Ghost Orchid. I breathes with the life force that pulses through the Everglades; and NPR said the ghost orchid is the heart and soul of the story. See the reviews at ww.w.dkchristi.com and add it to your ghost orchid collection.

  3. AboutOrchids » Blog Archive » More Orchids in an Ice Rink Says:

    […] Along with a striking Ghost Orchid, there were some wonderful blooms at last weekend’s Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show in an Erie ice rink. […]

  4. PJ100 Says:

    not clear on the concept of how a plant grows w/o leeaves, but it’s a cool flower.
    thanks for the pics.

  5. BDo Says:

    Those are great pictures. I recently saw the ghost orchid at the Oak Hills vendors booth. Very exciting. I posted about it here (and updated the post to link to yours): http://catsandcatts.blogspot.com/2010/05/ghost-story.html
    best, Brian

  6. Green George Says:

    Thanks for the cool shots

  7. Todd C Says:

    Amazing flower-it doens’t even look real

  8. nancy Says:

    Oh, if I had known I could see a ghost orchd, I would have driven to that show. Maybe I’ll plan to go next year and it’ll be in bloom again at the same time.

  9. AboutOrchids » Blog Archive » Super Ghost Says:

    […] the rare and elusive Ghost Orchid can pop up in some unusual places, the most reliable spot to see one in bloom is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida. […]

  10. AboutOrchids » Blog Archive » Sinister Draculas Says:

    […] Ghost Orchids, dead orchids, and weird orchids can spook you, but it’s the creepy Draculas that can scare you […]