AboutOrchids

Grammatophyllum orchids make a big impression. These large beauties are native to hot, steamy jungles in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Dave and I have seen them in Hawaii before, but never in bloom until our recent visit to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu. We not saw only one, but three different Grammatophyllum varieties flowering at Foster. I’ve already blogged about the first one, the Tiger Orchid, which is the largest orchid in the world. Here are the other two we saw — not as big, but no less splendid in their tropical grandeur. The first one is the Leopard Orchid, Grammatophyllum scriptum, named for its spotted flowers.

Leopard Orchids are smaller than their Tiger Orchid relatives, but they can still take lots of space, especially with their tall flower spikes. The photos for the second variety below show the same species as above, but this cultivar has greenish yellow blossoms instead. If you look closely, you can see the faint outlines of the leopard spot patterns. For good measure, there’s one more photo of the Tiger Orchid at the end, so all three types are in the same post.

To grow Grammatophyllums, give them lots of full sun, warm temps, regular waterings, regular fertilizer, and high humidity. Besides being known for the size, Grammatophyllums are also known for their stubbornness. Most bloom only once every two or three years. So, if you have lots of space and patience, Grammatophyllums may be the orchids for you.

Explore posts in the same categories: Botanical Gardens, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Photos, Warm Growers

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2014 at 8:19 pm and is filed under Botanical Gardens, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Photos, Warm Growers.

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