25 Most Common Orchid Species

Brought to you by Types of Orchids

Phalaenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchids)

• Most common indoor grown Orchids• Will thrive and re-bloom at home• Forgiving of mistakes, great for beginners• Available in all colors by blue and black• Looks like a flying moth when in full bloom

Cymbidium Orchids

• Very popular Orchid• Last for months as cut flowers in water• Great for beginners• Needs temperatures to stay above 50 degrees

Paphiopedilum Orchids

• Nicknamed the “Lady Slipper”• One of the most exotic looking Orchid Species• Hard to grow in pots indoors• Healthy root system is key to survival

Phaius Orchids

• Grows flowers in bunches• Available in several colors• Extremely fragrant• Prefers temperatures between 65-70 degrees

Vanilla Orchids

• The original producer of Vanilla• Produces great scent and taste• Takes several years to begin producing flowers• Hard to propagate

Laelia Orchid

• Grow large flowers, up to 12 inches across• Prefer bright indirect sunlight• Need well-draining soil to thrive• Used to cultivate thousands of other species

Epidendrum Orchids

• One of the first established Orchid genera• Produces bunches of red, orange, or yellow

flowers• Prefer indirect sunlight and direct sunlight can

kill this species

Cattleya Orchids

• Sometimes referred to as “the queen or Orchids”

• Storied past• Requires 4-7 years to flower• Produced in all colors by blue and black

Dendrobium Orchids

• One of the most common houseplant species• Over 1000 verieties of this species• Can be found in both warm and cool climates• Flower size varies per variety from large to

small

Brassia Orchids

• Produce flowers that look like spiders• Attracts spider wasps for pollination• Colors match the local spiders, green or yellow

Masdevallia Orchids

• Need cool environment to survive• Live in cool mountains and breezy coastlines• Require a large amount of humidity• Produces unique showy flowers

Brassavola Orchids

• Produce unique white or fold flowers• Flowers droop from the base of the plant• Perfect for hanging baskets

Vanda Orchids

• Commonly grown as a houseplant• Need warmth and high humidity• Obsorbs humidity through surface roots• Flowers produce strong scent

Angraecum Orchids

• Nicknamed “Darwin’s Orchid” • Pollinated by a single insect species• Produces star shaped flowers with a tail

Maxillaria Orchids

• Well known to Orchid enthusiast, but not very popular

• Grow single flowers on short spikes• Flowers are typically shaded by dense foliage• Produces very strong Coconut fragrance

Odontoglossom Orchids

• Well known for strong scent• Available is all colors but blue in black• Has thousands of hybrid variations

Zygopetalum Orchids

• Smallest group of Orchids with 15 types• Strongest scented Orchid• Commercially produced for cut flowers• Very tall

Blubophyllum Orchids

• Largest group of Orchids• Strong scent attracts flies• Grown in warm environments

Miltonia Orchids

• Flowers are mostly pink or purple• Can be plain, dotted, or striped• Scent compared to a rose• Flowers last months at a time

Anguloa Orchids

• Commonly referred to as “Tulip Orchids”• Scented like cinnamon• Produce one flower a year• Deciduous leaves, meaning they die and grow

back yearly

Bletilla Orchids

• Great survivability rate, prefect for beginners.• Can be stored dried from months• Flowers grow at the leaf tips

Catasetum Orchids

• Explode pollen onto insects to pollinate• Feed off of decomposing wood• Require a dormant period• Grows spikes while dormant

Cycnoches Orchids

• Produces flowers in clumps• Require dry period during winter• Flower a few times a year

Disa Orchids

• Have evolved significantly over the years• Produces red flowers on long spikes• Commonly used as cut flowers• Prone to root rot, need to be kept dry

Lycaste Orchids

• Produce flowers with only three petals• Scented like clove or cinnamon• Each stem produces a single flower• Produces veined leaves

References:

Types of Orchids