AboutOrchids

In honor of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday today (by the way, he was born the exact same day as Abraham Lincoln!) I have some remarkable pictures of “Darwin’s Orchid.” This stunning orchid has a long scientific name, Angraecum sesquipedale. Easier to pronounce is its nickname, Darwin’s Orchid, so named since it played an important role […]

Cymbidiums are popular orchids, and here on the California coast, Cymbidium blooming season has started. This yellow one, possibly Cymbidium Golden Elf ‘Sundust,’ is a hybrid of Cymbidium ensifolium, which has traditionally been grown in China, Korea, and Japan for centuries. To grow these beauties with their sweet, richly scented flowers, you need to provide […]

Say what? You don’t need to be able to pronounce Myoxanthus to enjoy its funky flowers. If you do want to pronounce it, say “MY-oh-zan-this,” rhymes with “try go Kansas.” This orchid is a relative of Masdevallias, and enjoys high humidity, cool temperatures, and constant air circulation. Its native home is Peru and Ecuador on […]

The title pretty much says it all. The scientific name of this orchid, Sobralia macrantha, translates as “big flower,” and it doesn’t disappoint. This easy-to-grow orchid puts on a great show with flowers that can be as large as 6-10 inches (15-25 cm.) It’s native to a variety of habitats from Mexico to Costa Rica, […]

Say “sah-LODGE-en-ee.” Kind of rhymes with “progeny.” It may have a tough name, but these fragrant white and yellow flowers make up for it. This Coelogyne mooreana originates in the cloud forests of the mountains of Vietnam, and can handle a wide range of temperatures. Mine lives outside all year long here in San Francisco, […]

Living in a city where space is at a premium, I can always appreciate the virtues of a small orchid. If it doesn’t need much room, it’s so much easier to rationalize why I should buy it. Many an orchid purchase has been preceded by the statement “I can squeeze it in somewhere since it’s […]

Here are some more pictures from our recent visit to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA. Cymbidium flowers Originally I mis-identified this orchid. Its correct name is Bifrenaria harrisoniae. The center looks like a smiley face with a fuzzy beard. In high humidity at Phipps, orchid roots grow exposed to the open air. The roots growing […]

It’s a sign of springtime that I have so many orchids starting to bloom. This little red Maxillaria tenuifolia may not look as impressive as larger orchids, but it packs a big scent. This single flower fills our front room with a sweet coconut aroma. It is native to Central American jungles, and enjoys warm […]

… and the day is the first day of Spring. These beautiful Jumellea arachnantha blooms made for a great equinox celebration. It’s native to the Comoros Islands by Madagascar, and the flowers have a strong fragrance during the day.

Did I mention that my time away involved laying on a beach in Mexico? ‘Cause that’s what we did. We did do lots of exploring, too, including orchid hunting. We were disappointed not to find orchids within Cancun, but our visit to the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza made up for it. We were […]