A Big Season for Cymbidium Orchids

Cymbidium hybrid orchid flower, gold white and deep red flower, flower with water drops, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, green white and deep red flower, partially open flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flowers, white flowers and buds with water drops, many flowers on a spike, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California

Cymbidium hybrid orchid flowers, pink white yellow and reddish-purple flower, flowers with water drops, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium Green Zenith 4N x tracyanum 4N, hybrid orchid flower, gold white and deep red flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flowers, pink white yellow and reddish-purple flowers, flowers with water drops, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California

The California coast is already a beautiful place, and Cymbidium orchids make it even better. Since we moved to Pacifica several years ago, we’ve acquired more of them. Dave occasionally brings a nice one home from the grocery store. Usually they bloom in different seasons, but this year they all decided to flower over the winter. For a little while, I had 10 plants in bloom at once.

Cymbidium hybrid orchid flower, yellow and white flower with water drops, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, white flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, pink white yellow and reddish-purple flower, flower with water drops, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California

Cymbidium hybrid orchid flower, green white and deep red flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, gold white and deep red flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, yellow and white flower, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California

Cymbidiums are great outdoor orchids for the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of our neighbors keep them in their gardens. Some hybrids may bloom more than once annually. Warmer growing varieties are available for those who don’t enjoy our cool nighttime temps, which they need to flower.

The final row of photos below features my favorite new Cymbidium. This is Cymbidium tracyanum, a species native to mountains in China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. I received divisions from a friend last year when I helped her repot a large, old plant. I didn’t expect it to bloom so soon, but it’s gracing us with three spikes full of spectacular, fragrant, 5-inch (12.7 cm) wide flowers. It’s a superb harbinger of spring.

Cymbidium tracyanum, orchid species flower, purplish-red white and yellow flower with spots and stripes, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium tracyanum, orchid species flowers, purplish-red white and yellow flowers with spots and stripes, grown outdoors in Pacifica, CaliforniaCymbidium tracyanum, orchid species flowers, purplish-red white and yellow flowers with spots and stripes, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California

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