This Spiranthes hardly looks like an orchid. Out of bloom, its thin, skinny leaves look like they belong to a weed. Even in bloom, the tiny white flowers bear little resemblance to its grand tropical relatives. Spiranthes’ name hints at its spiral arrangement of flowers. These scented blooms, just over half an inch (1.3 cm) […]
Food52.com takes a close look at the tastiest orchid, vanilla. Just a few drops or seeds add magic to baked goods, candy, and chocolate. Did you know that the vanilla pod itself has more flavor than its seeds? Pods can be used repeatedly to infuse sugar or any liquid. To enjoy vanilla’s flavor without the […]
Orchids take many forms, some of them familiar. With these unusual blossoms, it’s easy to see how Anguloas earned the nickname Tulip Orchids. In the wild, they hang onto steep cliffs in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. I don’t see them in cultivation often, and don’t have any in my own […]
Since August, these charming Samurai Orchid blooms have been brightening our home. Their enchanting flowers don’t have any fragrance during the day, but when evening arrives, they produce a strong, sweet perfume which belies their small size. Native to mountainside forests in Japan, Korea, and China, these prized orchids have been cultivated for centuries in […]
Cattleyas are orchid royalty. For generations, their brilliant colors, exotic shapes, and rich perfumes have made them prime choices as elegant corsages. These photos of Cattleya species and hybrids illustrate only a few from thousands of varieties. Orchid growers often refer to them as “Catts,” and say “Cattleya care” to encapsulate their growing needs: bright […]
The Miami Herald has a Ghost Orchid alert! In Florida, the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has a Ghost Orchid blooming within sight of its visitor boardwalk. Earlier in the summer, this plant’s first flower buds became grasshopper snacks, but 5 new buds have survived and opened. Besides the name Ghost Orchid, this species also goes […]
Orchids have drawn the eye of The New York Times Fashion & Style section. The Times laments that becoming a “grocery staple” has dulled the mystique of once-exotic orchids. While Phals have become common, however, tens of thousands of other varieties continue to inspire. From elusive black orchid flowers to custom hybrids, orchids still spawn […]
Mysta-what? With a name bigger than its tiny white flowers, this mini orchid doesn’t look tough. However, looks can be deceiving. Despite its delicate facade, this species survives attached to thorny Acacia trees in the heat of South Africa’s savannas, where few other orchids can live. It can also handle light winter frosts. This toughness […]
Orchid lovers are searching for ghosts in Florida’s swamps. Summer is Ghost Orchid season, with spectral flowers betraying the locations of these strange, leafless air plants. Made famous by the bestselling book The Orchid Thief and acclaimed movie Adaptation, Ghost Orchids have a fanatic following. Southwest Florida’s News-Press has an article and two swampy videos […]
Sure, orchids are great, but wouldn’t it be nice to just stick one in the ground like a regular plant? Well, you can do just that with the Chinese Ground Orchid, or Bletilla. If you can grow a tulip or a daffodil, you can grow a Bletilla. Resembling Cattleyas, their charming flowers have ruffly ridges […]
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