Which Ones Are Butterfly Orchids?

Psychopsis flower, Butterfly Orchid, Orchids in the Park 2013, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaDendrophylax lindenii, Ghost Orchid flower, Butterfly Orchid, orchid species, aka Polyrrhiza lindenii, Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show 2010, Erie, PennsylvaniaSarcochilus George Culthop x Melody, orchid hybrid flowers, Butterfly Orchid, Pacific Orchid Expo 2015, San Francisco, California

Which ones are Butterfly Orchids? Well, they all are. These very different plants have each been dubbed Butterfly Orchids, and that can be confusing. Common names vary, and that’s why scientific names are so important. With scientific names, everyone in the world can know they’re talking about the same plant. Common names are great for common use, and for avoiding long Latin words.

Psychopsis flower, Butterfly Orchid, Kawamoto Orchid Nursery, Honolulu, HawaiiPsychopsis flower, Butterfly Orchid, Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaPsychopsis papilio flower, Butterfly Orchid, orchid species, aka Oncidium papilio, Pacific Orchid Expo 2002, San Francisco, California

Butterfly Orchids may refer to the Psychopsis genus, like the row of photos above. Their large, showy flowers always impress. These spectacular warm-growers are Oncidium relatives.

Butterfly Orchids may also refer to the Sarcochilus orchids in the next two photos below. That’s their common name in their native home, Australia. Florida’s famous Ghost Orchid, in the final photo, is sometimes called a Butterfly Orchid as well.

Sarcochilus hartmannii, orchid species flowers, Butterfly Orchid, grown outdoors in San Francisco, CaliforniaSarcochilus Kulnura Spice x Fairy, orchid hybrid flower and buds, Butterfly Orchid, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaDendrophylax lindenii, Ghost Orchid flower, Butterfly Orchid, orchid species, aka Polyrrhiza lindenii, Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show 2010, Erie, Pennsylvania

Species in the large genus Platanthera, native to much of the Northern Hemisphere including the USA and Canada, are all nicknamed Butterfly Orchids. I’ve even heard people call Phals “Butterfly Orchids,” rather than their more popular name, Moth Orchids.  Wikipedia’s list includes many more varieties sharing this same common name.

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