Circling Around Daisy Orchids
Daisy Orchids, or Cirrhopetalums, earn their nickname from their resemblance to daisies. However, with Daisy Orchids, what looks like separate petals of one large flower are actually separate flowers, each magnificently complex. These blooms are arranged in a circle or semicircle around a center stalk. Many varieties have long, tapering sepals, adding to their charms.
Scientists have debated whether these orchids should be classified as Cirrhopetalums, or whether they belong in the vast and weird Bulbophyllum genus. Currently, they’re considered to be Bulbophyllums, but like many orchid name changes, the old names persist in common use. They’re native to a large area from India and China, throughout Southeast Asia to Indonesia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and as far as northern Australia and southern Japan.
Daisy Orchids are considered among the easiest Bulbophyllums to grow if you can maintain consistently high humidity. They enjoy regular water and fertilizer, and do best on mounts or in baskets to accommodate their rambling growth. Depending on their native habitats, some are warm growers and some are intermediate. Most do not share the foul scents of their fellow Bulbophyllums, but I would still smell one before buying it to be sure. This post shows 14 different species, and one hybrid in the final photo, that have been called Cirrhopetalums, but there are many more Daisy Orchids going around.
Explore posts in the same categories: Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Warm Growers
Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
