NPR reports that American and Cuban scientists are working to bring back some of Florida’s native orchids. Listen to the story below–
Angraecoids are a family of fascinating and fragrant orchids, and the Angraecoid Alliance is a group dedicated to their cultivation and conservation. These orchids are native to tropical Africa, especially Madagascar, and Indian Ocean islands. Many have gleaming white flowers, scentless during the day, but with rich scents at night. Sadly, many are endangered due to habitat destruction, illegal poaching, and climate change. The most famous angraecoid is certainly Darwin’s Orchid, with a flower that’s evolved for a moth with a very long tongue. Angraecoids include Angraecums, Aerangis, Eurychones, Jumelleas, Mystacidiums, Oeoniellas, and other closely related species. Check out the Angraecoid Alliance site for more pictures.
The Angraecoid Alliance promotes habitat conservation in Madagascar and tropical Africa, and educates orchid lovers how to best grow these plants in their own collections. You can support the Angraecoid Alliance by becoming a member (it’s only $10!), following on Facebook, and learning more about these gorgeous orchids.
This Scaphosepalum species is a mini Masdevallia relative with incredible blooming power. The plant shown in most of these photos flowered continuously for over five years! Its new blooms, each smaller than a pea, continually emerge along a lengthening, zig-zag flower spike. The first photo in this series comes from a plant we recently saw in Kew Gardens, but the rest of the photos show my plant during that lengthy bloom cycle.
This tough, little cool grower can handle sun or shade. Unlike many other Pleurothallids, this species is fine with tap water, at least here in the SF Bay Area. Native to cloud forests in the Andes, it can live incredibly high at 11,483 feet (3500 m) elevation. Daily watering and cool, moist breezes keep it happy.
My plant has noticeably shorter flower spikes on the coast, probably because it’s so much windier here than our sheltered garden in San Francisco. The flowers are just as frequent, except they’re much closer together on the shorter spikes. I’ve had this same plant for over a decade, and it’s been in bloom most of the time, even when temps have dropped close to freezing. After flowering constantly for over 5½ years, it stopped for eight months, and then resumed again in earnest. Now it boasts over a dozen flower spikes. I hope it has many more years to go.
From Santa Barbara to Helsinki to Lima, these orchid events are all full of gorgeous flowers, orchid experts, and great plants for sale. Don’t miss the chance to see one of these amazing shows!
Bats eat lots of garden pests, work for free, and won’t fly in your hair! Pacific Horticulture explains why bats are garden allies.
What do antelopes have to do with orchids? Look at the graceful, spiraling petals on these tropical beauties, and you’ll understand. Antelope Dendrobiums are a popular section of the enormous Dendrobium family. Their upward-twisting petals inspire the antelope horn comparison.
There are several dozen species and a growing number of hybrids with these curvy blooms. Most all have sweet fragrances. Some have petals with a single twist; others boast elegant spirals, or ruffled edges. The species are native to rainforests from Southeast Asia to Northern Australia, concentrated in New Guinea.
They are warm growers, and require similar care as their relatives, the Den-Phals. Give Antelope Dendrobiums plenty of water, morning sun, regular fertilizer, and high humidity. They don’t really go dormant in winter, but they don’t need as much water or fertilizer in the weak winter sun. Most varieties can grow into large plants, so they won’t fit on a windowsill. If you have enough space, these amazing orchids with a twist will add beauty and fragrance to your collection.
For over a century, orchid growers have hybridized Lady Slippers to create countless new varieties. Now, the most important Paph hybrids have been identified by orchid experts. Each of these historic crosses has its own legacy, and many contribute their prized genes to modern hybrids sold today. This decade-by-decade list was assembled as part of the Phipps-Orchid Society Initiative (P-OSI.) It’s a joint project between Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh and the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania. P-OSI’s goals are to improve Phipps’ current orchid holdings, and to create a world-class Lady Slipper collection. Phipps is now beginning to acquire these important plants. They are starting with Paphs, and will include other Lady Slippers like Phrags and Cyps in the future. Check the progress of the project in a recent Orchid Digest article (learn more about Orchid Digest magazine here.)
This fragile-looking Dendrobium species is tougher than it looks. Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium was named to celebrate the British monarch. It’s nicknamed the Blue Orchid, since some specimens have a blue hue, but my plant is decidedly purple.
In four years since I bought this orchid, it’s been through the mill, but somehow survived and flowered. As a cool grower, this species lives outdoors. It’s been sunburned, almost frozen, and become a favorite target for raccoons. On several occasions, it’s been reduced to a single cane (or pseudobulb,) but managed to grow back. The plant adapted well last year after we moved from San Francisco to Pacifica, and has been happily blooming despite all the damage.
Native to high elevations in the Philippines, Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium likes cool, moist, shady conditions. It needs constant high humidity and good air movement. This species can handle warm days, but needs cool nights down to 50°F (10°C.) Don’t let it go below 41°F (5°C.) Since the canes tend to droop, it grows best mounted, not in a pot. This variety can flower repeatedly throughout the year, always on older canes which have lost their leaves. The Blue Orchid is both beautiful and tough, perfect for cool, breezy conditions.
Tennessee officials are trying to save a rare, indigenous orchid species. The White Fringeless Orchid is hanging in the balance as government officials weigh its fate. Native to the Southeastern USA, this species is endangered by habitat loss and illegal poaching of wild plants. Its scientific name is Platanthera integrilabia, and it grows in wooded areas around streams, marshes, and bogs. The White Fringeless Orchid hasn’t been seen for years in South Carolina, where a sad spike in poaching has probably doomed it. Meanwhile, it has waited 40 years since the first request to classify it as an endangered species. It’s finally due for a decision in the next year, but will that already be too late? If it does receive federal protection, it may yet be possible to save this American native.
Orchid casualties are inevitable in any collection, even for experienced growers. My latest loss was this adorable mini Oncidium species, a victim of some devilish raccoons.
I bought this plant many years ago, and always grew it outdoors. It’s been a stubborn species, and only bloomed for me twice. A couple weeks ago, I found the plant torn out of its flowerpot and destroyed. It may have been a bird or a squirrel, but raccoons are the most likely culprits. They regularly visit our backyard after dark, sometimes in groups, sometimes alone. They usually leave my plants in peace, but occasionally knock over flowerpots or dig in the bark. It’s helped to give them a clear route to climb and walk through my flowerpots, which has lessened their damage. Their dexterous hands, however, can make quick work of any plant they wish to destroy. I don’t know why they picked on this one, but fortunately, I have a few photos as mementos.
This Andes native has had many names. I bought it as Symphyglossum sanguineum, but it’s also been known as Cochlioda stricta, Cochlioda sanguinea, Symphyglossum ecuadorense, and Odontoglossum sanguineum. It’s currently called Oncidium scriptum. No matter the name, keep it away from raccoons.
