Orchids grow naturally in just about every climate. So, whether you’re looking for an orchid to adorn your office or a species to try growing in your outdoor garden, you’ll find thousands to choose from. To help with your search, we’ve rounded up some of the most alluring types of orchid species for you to admire. In addition, we’ve included suitable growing conditions a few essential care tips for each so you can find the perfect types of orchid plants for your own unique living space.
About Orchid Plants
Orchidaceae is a plant family containing an estimated 28,000 species of flowering plants in addition to about 100,000 hybrids and cultivars commonly called orchids. The incredibly diverse orchid family is also widespread. Orchids grow naturally all over the world in just about every habitat except for glaciers.
Orchids are prized for their exceptional beauty. Their flowers have bilateral symmetry and blossom in a rainbow of alluring colors and patterns. Some orchids are terrestrial, meaning they grow in the ground, and others are categorized as epiphytic, meaning they grow anchored to tree bark or rocky outcroppings.
Uses and Benefits of Orchid Plants
Apart from being widely commercially cultivated for their ornamental value, orchids also have a place in perfumeries and in the culinary arts. One of the most popular orchids is the Vanilla planifolia. The seed pods of this species of vanilla orchid are prized for their strong vanilla scent and flavor and are used in baking, perfumes, and aromatherapy.
For more, see our in-depth guide to orchid plant uses and benefits.
Meanings and Symbolism of Orchid Plants
The name “orchid” comes from the Greek word “orchis” which actually means testicle, and it was given to orchids due to the appearance of some members of the species’ tubers. In Ancient Greece, it was even thought that parents could influence the sex of an infant by eating smaller or larger orchid tubers! As a result, orchids have widely come to symbolize fertility.
Today, orchid symbolism and meaning have a strong connection to the color of the orchid in question.
- Pink – Grace, femininity, and joy
- Purple – Admiration and respect
- Red – Passion, desire, romance, and love
- Orange – Boldness, enthusiasm, passion, and pride
- Yellow – New beginnings or friendship
- White – Purity, innocence, reverence, and elegance
Additionally, orchids have taken on various culturally significant meanings in rituals that come from South and Central America to East Asia. Various species have been selected as the official flowers to represent cities around the world.
For more, see our comprehensive guide to Orchid flower meaning and symbolism.
43 Popular Types of Orchid Plants to Grow at Home
Here you’ll find 43 of our absolute favorite orchids. We’ve included a few essential orchid care pointers for each so you can find the perfect match for your own unique living environment.
1) Miltonia Orchids (Miltonia)
About Miltonia orchids:
Miltonia orchids are often called pansy orchids – except among the most experienced orchid enthusiasts. However, the term pansy orchid actually refers to Miltoniopsis orchids that closely resemble pansies. Although they don’t look like pansies, Miltonia orchids have large, attractive flowers that are worth the effort if you can coax yours to bloom.
| Native To: | Brazil, east Paraguay, and northeast Argentina |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Moderately difficult to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Spring and/or fall for about 5 weeks |
2) Venus Slipper (Paphiopedilum)
About Venus Slipper Orchids:
The Paphiopedilum genus of orchids contains about 80 species and numerous hybrids of orchids that are commonly called venus slippers. Venus slipper orchids bloom with a single white flower that features attractive purple and/or green markings on its petals. These flowers are exceedingly difficult to propagate without seeds, which makes every Venus slipper unique.
| Native To: | India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Bismarck Islands, and the Solomon Islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance |
| Light Preferences: | Medium/partial sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Winter or spring for about 8 weeks |
3) Tiger Orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum)
About Tiger Orchids:
With blossoms featuring an array of yellowish-orange petals dappled in tiger-like spots and stripes of brown, the tiger orchid is stunningly beautiful. This species is also sometimes commonly referred to as the giant orchid because of its size. In fact, a tiger orchid that measured in at a towering 25 feet actually holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the world’s tallest orchid.
| Native To: | Indonesia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Difficult to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Fall to summer for 4 weeks every 2 to 4 years |
4) The Black-Lipped Orchid (Coelogyne pandurata)
About The Black Lipped Orchid:
The Coelogyne pandurata is commonly called the black-lipped orchid because its flowers have ghostly greenish-white petals with a striking black-striped center. These large beauties bloom with up to 15 flowers per raceme. At several inches in diameter, each blossom lasts about a week. Plus, these gorgeous orchids smell strongly of honey.
| Native To: | Philippines, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Low to medium light |
| Flowering Season: | Late spring and summer for up to 3 months |
5) Vanilla Orchids (Vanilla)
About Vanilla Orchids:
With their alluring, creamy-white, tubular blossoms, the 110 species of orchids from the Vanilla genus are quite attractive. However, these plants are most widely prized for their use in vanilla flavoring, fragrance, and aromatherapy. The most popular species is the Vanilla planifolia, the seed pods of which are used to produce the popular commercial vanilla flavoring that everyone uses in baking.
| Native To: | Tropical and subtropical regions around the world |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow, but needs natural conditions to produce seed pods |
| Light Preferences: | Medium-light to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Mid-spring to late summer for 1 day |
6) Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia)
About Monkey Orchids:
These are just about the cutest flowers you will ever see. The way the petals, lip, and column are arranged on these blossoms strongly resembles miniature monkeys – hence the common name “monkey orchid.” These orchid flowers come complete with smiling monkey faces, furry-looking scruff, lanky arms, and tails in the perfect shades of brown and creamy-white. If the adorable look of these flowers wasn’t enough to allure you, they also smell of fragrant oranges.
| Native To: | South America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or outdoors in zones 9 to 11 |
| General Care: | Moderately difficult to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Shade |
| Flowering Season: | Blooms throughout the year |
7) Cat’s Tail Orchids (Aerides)
About Cat’s Tail Orchids:
The genus of orchids, Aerides, gets its name from the Greek for “child of the air.” It’s an epiphytic orchid which means that its root system acts more like an anchor than a source of nutrients and moisture. These orchids are absolutely beautiful with tall racemes that simply burst with brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, purple, yellow, and white.
| Native To: | Tropical Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in the right conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered light |
| Flowering Season: | Summer with long-lasting blossoms |
8) Jewel Orchid (Ludisia)
About Jewel Orchids:
The Ludisia genus of orchis was long thought to contain just one species, Ludisia discolor. However, in 2013, a second species the Ludisia ravanii from the Philippines was also added. Jewel orchids have very attractive foliage with ovate leaves in either deep green or a velvety red that are finely marked with yellow or light-green pinstripes. They produce delicate racemes of white flowers.
| Native To: | Southeast Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance |
| Light Preferences: | Medium light to shade |
| Flowering Season: | Winter to spring |
9) Lady’s Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium calceolus)
About Lady’s Slipper Orchids:
The Cypripedium calceolus gets its common name “lady’s slipper” from its blossoms’ striking resemblance to tiny, little, yellow slippers surrounded by an array of spindly reddish-black petals. These orchids grow across Europe and Asia in woodlands, and they are a protected species in Europe. In Russian folklore, lady’s slippers are said to drive away evil spirits.
| Native To: | Europe and Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Garden in growing zones 2 to 6 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright to medium sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Spring and summer for two months |
10) Epidendrum Orchids (Epidendrum)
About Epidendrum Orchids:
This genus of orchids contains about 1,500 species. Most of these have clusters of small to medium-sized brightly colored flowers in fiery hues. With three-lobed blossoms that resemble little crosses, epidendrum orchids are sometimes commonly referred to as crucifix orchids. These orchids are more easily grown indoors, but they can grow in gardens in the United States that have just the right temperature and humidity range.
| Native To: | American tropics and subtropics from Argentina to North Carolina |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Grow indoors or outdoors in zone 10 or 11 |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance and easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade, depending on the species |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year but most commonly in spring and summer |
11) Philippine Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)
About Philippine Ground Orchid:
The Philippine ground orchid is an evergreen terrestrial orchid which means, as its common name suggests, that it grows in the ground, drawing nutrients and moisture up through its roots. It features clusters of delicate flowers in shades of vibrant violet, pale mauve, and the rarest snowy white.
| Native To: | Tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the western Pacific |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or garden in zone 10 |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Earl spring to late fall |
12) Vanda Orchids (Vanda)
About Vanda Orchids:
About 80 species of orchids make up the Vanda genus, and they are all popular and easy to purchase from garden centers everywhere. Vanda orchid flowers blossom several times throughout the year. They are showy, long-lasting, fragrant, and feature a variety of vibrant hues and color combinations that make them a joy to grow inside and out in the right conditions.
| Native To: | East and Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Queensland, and some western Pacific islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or garden in zones 10 and 11 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year |
13) Fox Tail Orchid (Rhynchostylis gigantea)
About Fox Tail Orchids:
The Rhynchostylis gigantea is a species of orchid that features a long inflorescence of blossoms that reaches about 15 inches in length and when in full bloom, it can resemble a fluffy fox tail. Due to this orchid’s wide distribution around the Asia continent, its flowers come in a range of colors and patterns. They can be solid magenta, red, or even spotted with white.
| Native To: | India and Southeast Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Winter for 2 weeks |
14) Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza)
About Marsh Orchids:
The genus Dactylorhiza contains about 30 species of terrestrial orchids commonly called marsh orchids. These orchids hybridize easily, so the actual number of cultivars is numerous and not clearly known. Marsh orchids tend to grow in cooler regions in damp, forested areas. They feature pink, white, and purple cones of flowers with beautiful markings and attractive color combinations.
| Native To: | Eurasia, North Africa, Alaska, and some Pacific islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Garden in growing zones 5 to 8 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered light to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Spring and summer |
15) Nun’s Hood Orchid (Phaius tankervilleae)
About Nun’s Hood Orchid:
Sometimes called the swamp lily, swamp orchid, veiled orchid, or nun’s hood orchid, the Phaius tankervilleae gets its scientific name from Lady Tankerville, who was a British heiress who owned the greenhouse in which the first tropical orchid (and the first nun’s hood) bloomed in England.
| Native To: | Asia and some Pacific islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Indoors or outdoors in zones 9 and 11 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Late winter and early spring for 4 to 6 weeks |
16) Mokara Orchids (X Mokara spp.)
About Mokara Orchids:
Mokara orchids cannot be found growing natively anywhere in the wild because mokaras are strictly hybrids cultivated by the human botanist’s hand. However, the species commonly crossed to produce mokara orchids are mostly native to Asia and include the cymbidium, cattleya, paphiopedilum, and the oncidium orchid. They feature large clusters of starfish-shaped blossoms in vibrant colors like red, orange, purple, pink, yellow, and white.
| Native To: | Do not occur naturally |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year for about 2 weeks |
17) Coelogyne Orchids (Coelogyne)
About Coelogyne Orchids:
These orchids bloom with delicately draping clusters of almost lacy-looking flowers, and some of the roughly 200 species are referred to as necklace flowers. They sometimes bloom with flowers in a pure shade of snowy-white with bright yellow centers, in salmon pink, chocolate brown, or even a brilliant shade of emerald green. Sweetly fragrant, these orchids make a perfect addition to a greenhouse or indoor display.
| Native To: | India, China, Indonesia, and Fiji |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Medium to low light |
| Flowering Season: | Spring for up to 3 months |
18) Odontoglossum Orchids (Odontoglossum)
About Odontoglossum Orchids:
Odontoglossum is a genus of about 100 species of orchids that are native to the cooler mountainous regions of the American tropics such as the Andes Mountains. These orchids’ flowers bloom in strange and exotic-looking shapes, colors, and combinations of colors with strikingly unique patterns adorning their ruffled petals.
| Native To: | High altitude regions of the American tropics |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Moderately difficult |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Varies from species to species |
19) Dove Orchid (Peristeria elata)
About Dove Orchid:
Peristeria elata is an elegant species of orchid that produces a central cone-shaped raceme of flowers. This orchid is commonly referred to as the dove orchid because at the center of an alabaster circle of petals rests a single petal that’s distinctly shaped like a dove. With the association of the Holy Spirit with doves in Christianity, this orchid is also commonly called the flower of the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost orchid.
| Native To: | Central America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Low-maintenance but can be challenging to flower |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect light for mature plants and medium to low light for young plants |
| Flowering Season: | Summer through fall for 3 to 7 days |
20) Zygopetalum Orchids (Zygopetalum)
About Zygopetalum Orchids:
Zygopetalum is a small genus containing just 14 officially recognized species of orchids. Like many orchids, the species of this genus have exotic-looking, unusually shaped flowers in a variety of interesting colors and speckled or striped patterns. They’re fairly easy to grow in the right climates and are a very popular choice for growing in outdoor gardens along the coastline of Southern California.
| Native To: | South America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or growing zones 9 to 10 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Medium light |
| Flowering Season: | Year-round 2 to 4 times per year for up to a month |
21) Epidendroideae Orchids (Epidendroideae)
About Epidendroideae Orchids:
Epidendroideae is a subfamily in the Orchidaceae (Orchid) family of plants. Containing more than 15,000 species of orchids, Epidendroideae is by far the largest subfamily of orchids. Although the subfamily contains some terrestrial orchids, most of the species of this family are tropical epiphytes. While most members of this family are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions where they grow on trees in humid climates, species of the Orchidaceae family can be found growing natively in various climates all around the world.
| Native To: | Worldwide |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplants and garden plants |
| General Care: | Generally easy to grow though some species are more challenging than others |
| Light Preferences: | Varies based on the species |
| Flowering Season: | Varies based on the species |
22) Tolumnia (Equitant oncidium)
About Tolumnia:
These petite orchids do not usually reach more than 6 or 8 inches in height, and a 4-inch potting vessel will usually accommodate one for life. Tolumnia orchids produce 12 to 15-inch tall inflorescences with exotic flowers. This orchid species’ scientific name “equitant” is Latin for “riding a horse,” and it refers to the way the plant’s dual leaves grow one on top of another, seeming to straddle the lower leaves as if riding a horse.
| Native To: | Caribbean Basin |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Blooms in spring |
23) Purple Orchids (Spathoglottis)
About Purple Orchids:
The Spathoglottis genus contains about 50 herbaceous, evergreen orchids. Commonly, they’re often referred to as garden orchids or even purple orchids. Although, Spathoglottis orchids bloom with flowers of pink, white, and yellow in addition to purple. All species of purple orchids are terrestrial, which means that they grow in the ground instead of on trees like their epiphytic cousins. As a result, you’ll often see these beauties sprouting up along the roads in tropical locales.
| Native To: | India, East Asia, Australia, and some Pacific Islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or tropical gardens |
| General Care: | Easy to grow and great for beginners |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to light shade |
| Flowering Season: | Blooms from spring through fall |
24) Catasetum Orchids (Catasetum)
About Catasetum Orchids:
166 species of epiphytic orchids comprise the Catasetum genus. These exceptional orchid plants are unisex, meaning they produce either showy and colorful male flowers or less-impressive, greenish-white female flowers. The sex of flowers produced depends on the conditions in which the plant matures. Sometimes a plant living in moderate conditions will produce both male and female flowers. This unique trait of Catasetum orchids resulted in many being classified as completely different plants until Charles Darwin resolved the issue in his studies.
| Native To: | Central America, South America, and the West Indies |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Bloom 2 to 4 times from spring through early fall |
25) Spider Orchid (Brassia)
About Spider Orchids:
Plants from the Brassia genus of orchids are commonly referred to as spider orchids because their petals are lined with long, spindly tepals that often give the flowers a spidery look. These orchids primarily grow in warm rainforests with high humidity from Mexico to Brazil. However, one species of spider orchid does grow natively as far north as Florida. Also, only spider-hunter wasps can pollinate spider orchids, so don’t try to pollinate them yourself.
| Native To: | Central America, South America, the West Indies, and Florida |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Moderately difficult |
| Light Preferences: | Partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Spring, summer, or winter depending on the species |
26) Laelia Orchids (Laelia)
About Laelia Orchids:
Just 25 species of orchids make up the Laelia genus. Laelia orchids bloom with star-shaped flowers in monochrome palettes of attractive hues like cream, violet, purple, peach, pink, and salmon. Each blossoming raceme will bear up to eight flowers.
| Native To: | Mexico, Central America, and South America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Medium to bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Spring to fall for about 8 weeks |
27) Fox Tail Orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa)
About Fox Tail Orchids:
When in bloom, this orchid species is instantly recognizable for its pendant-style racemes that hold abundant garlands of up to 100 pink-spotted white flowers each. In Assam, this fox tail orchid is worn by Bihu dancers at the onset of spring. Additionally, in this culture of Northern Indian, the Rhynchostylis retusa symbolizes fertility, love, and happiness.
| Native To: | East and Southeast Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in the right conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Late winter and early spring |
28) Flame Orchids (Maxillaria)
About Flame Orchids:
This genus contains a variety of very morphologically interesting-looking orchid flowers. The genus name comes from the Latin word for jawbone because several members of the species produce a flower that resembles a strong jawline. However, other species are commonly called tiger orchids, spider orchids, and flame orchids referring to their own unique looks.
| Native To: | Rainforests at sea level in Latin America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Late spring for several days |
29) Bulbophyllum Orchids (Bulbophyllum)
About Bulbophyllum Orchids:
With 2,000 species of orchids, Bulbophyllum is the largest genus in the orchid plant family, and it’s the second-largest genera of all flowering plants. While these plants can be found in a variety of warm habitats around the world, the center of their diversity rests in Papua New Guinea where a staggering 600 species can be found growing natively.
| Native To: | Most warmer climates around the world |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Generally easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight to partial shade depending on the species |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year for 1 to 6 weeks depending on the species |
30) Brassavola Orchids (Brassavola)
About Brassavola Orchids:
This genus of 21 orchids contains plants that flower with individual flowers or bunches of white or whitish-green, spade-shaped blossoms that seem to hang from the primary plant. These orchids emit a very strong fragrance at night, and their pleasantly citrusy aroma attracts a specialized moth pollinator.
| Native To: | Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight with some short direct light exposure |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year for 5 to 30 days depending on the species |
31) Upside-Down Orchids (Stanhopea)
About Upside-Down Orchids:
These unusual orchids are well-known for the strikingly strong fragrance of their blossoms and the unusual nature in which their flower racemes burst through their potting medium – rather than from the center of the plant’s foliage. This unusual flowering has led them to be referred to commonly as upside-down orchids. Stanhopea blossoms can be spectacularly complex and intricate, but they are usually short-lived.
| Native To: | Central and South America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Greenhouse plant |
| General Care: | Difficult to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Summer for a few days |
32) Ebine (Calanthe discolor)
About Ebine:
The Calanthe discolor is a species of woodland orchid that is most commonly found growing in Japan. Its common Japanese name “ebine” translates to shrimp root and describes the shape of the plant’s root system and pseudobulbs. There are two varieties of this species, and each features charming flowers that bloom in white to brownish mauve.
| Native To: | Korea, Japan, and parts of China |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Garden in growing zones 6 to 9 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in the right conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Medium sun to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Spring with long-lasting flowers |
33) Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia)
About Bamboo Orchids:
The bamboo orchid (Arundina gaminifolia) is the only species that has currently been accepted as a member of the Arundina genus of orchids. These orchids have strong, reedy stems that resemble bamboo, and they grow to be about 2 to 7 feet tall. Bamboo orchids bloom with up to 10 flowers per raceme. The showy, trumpet-shaped blossoms are a rosy white hue with a vibrant purple-colored inner lip.
| Native To: | Tropical Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Direct sun to bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year but more frequently in summer |
34) Eggleaf Twayblade (Listera ovata)
About Eggleaf Twayblade Orchids:
This orchid grows wild in habitats across much of the moderately cooler climates of Europe and Asia. It can be found sprouting up in meadows, moorlands, woods, and dune slacks. Unlike most of its cousins, the eggleaf twayblade keeps a fairly low profile with slender racemes and modest greenish-yellow blossoms that tend to blend into the surrounding scenery.
| Native To: | Europe and Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Gardens in growing zones 5 to 8 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Medium sunlight or moderate shade |
| Flowering Season: | Spring and summer |
35. White Egret Flower (Pecteilis radiata)
About White Egret Flower Orchids:
The Pecteilis radiata is perhaps one of the most elegantly beautiful orchids you can find. Its snowy white flowers spread out with two pinnate petals on either side of a central white body. The blossoms of these terrestrial orchids strongly resemble a snowy egret taking flight – hence the flower’s common name, white egret flower.
| Native To: | Russia, Korea, China, and Japan |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or garden in growing zones 5 through 10 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Moderate sunlight to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Late summer for weeks |
36) Christmas Orchids (Calanthe)
About Christmas Orchids:
Calanthe is a genus of flowering terrestrial orchids that grow into large, leafy clumps with prominent foliage. The broad, ovate leaves are sometimes ruffled, wrinkled, or corrugated giving these deciduous or evergreen plants a lush appearance. They produce tall racemes of white, pink, orange, or yellow flowers.
| Native To: | All tropical areas but most densely in Southeast Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Garden growing zones 6 to 9 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Part sun to light shade |
| Flowering Season: | Late winter through spring |
37) Masdevallia Orchids (Masdevallia)
About Masdevaillia Orchids:
The Masdevallia genus contains about 350 orchids. They are best recognized for their uniquely alluring flowers which feature long, skinny sepals that fuse into a larger tube-shaped flower structure. Additionally, their flowers feature brilliant colors and pretty markings to give them added appeal.
| Native To: | Higher altitude regions from Mexico to Southern Brazil |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or gardens in cool coastal climates |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in the right conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Spring or summer for 2 weeks |
38) Cockleshell Orchids (Encyclia)
About Cockleshell Orchids:
Encyclia is a genus of epiphytic orchids that are commonly called cockleshell orchids. Their pretty blossoms have petals that seem to droop around the center similar to an octopus’s tentacles. These orchids don’t produce a strong fragrance, and they are usually pollinated by both birds and bees.
| Native To: | Mexico, Floria, and the Caribbean |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or gardens in growing zones 9 to 11 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Starting in spring for more than a month |
39) Scorpion Orchids (Arachnis annamensis)
About Scorpion Orchids:
Commonly called scorpion orchids, flowers of the Arachnis annamensis have a menacing appearance with brownish-red and yellow-striped petals that resemble the legs, body, and stinger of a scorpion. These orchids are a climbing species that vines through the trees in tropical rainforests.
| Native To: | Southeast Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Bright, filtered sunlight |
| Flowering Season: | Late spring to early summer |
40) Pleione Orchids (Pleione)
About Pleione Orchids:
Named for the mother of the Pleiades (7 sisters) in Greek mythology, the Pleione genus contains about 20 species of mostly epiphytic orchids. Reaching only about 6 to 12 inches in diameter, these petite beauties have attractive bell-shaped or tubular flowers in delicate shades of pink, purple, and white. An elegant ring of petals surrounds each blossom’s central cup.
| Native To: | Mountainous regions of South Asia |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant or gardens in growing zone 8 |
| General Care: | Moderately difficult |
| Light Preferences: | Partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Spring for 1 to 2 weeks |
41) Broad-Leaved Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis)
About Broad-Leaved Marsh Orchids:
The Dactylorhiza majalis is a species of terrestrial orchid that springs up in marshy, nutrient-poor areas like wet meadows and heaths across Europe from Spain to Russia. When in bloom during June and July, these attractive orchids feature tall, cone-shaped racemes that are heavily laden with white, purple, or pink flowers.
| Native To: | Europe |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Gardens in zones 5 to 8 |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in warm, moist, and humid conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Summer |
42) Lycaste Orchids (Lycaste)
About Lycaste Orchids:
The Lycaste genus contains about 30 species of orchids that produce thin, pleated foliage and several spikes of flowers. Lycaste orchids bloom with flowers that have a unique, triangular silhouette comprised of three petals and three sepals in yellow, white orange, brown, or green. Some species of Lycaste orchids also have an unusual scent, smelling faintly of clove or cinnamon.
| Native To: | Central America |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Easy to grow in the right conditions |
| Light Preferences: | Medium-light to partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Late spring through early summer |
43) Ghost Orchids (Epipogium)
About Ghost Orchids:
The final type of orchid on our list is one of the rarest to find growing in nature, and it’s truly ghostly. Epipogium is a genus of just 4 orchid species. They have no leaves or chlorophyll and must rely on fungi in the soil for nutrients (for more, see our essential guide to the best orchid plant soil considerations). Ghost orchids produce short-lived flowers with a drooping, ghost-shaped silhouette in a pale, almost translucent-looking shade of white.
| Native To: | Europe, tropical Africa, temperature and tropical Asia, and some Pacific Islands |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Difficult to grow |
| Light Preferences: | Partial shade |
| Flowering Season: | Flowers infrequently (once about every 10 years) during the growing season |
44) Phalaenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchids)
About Phalaenopsis Orchids / Moth Orchids:
Phalaenopsis is a very popular genus of orchids comprising over 70 species of plants in the family Orchidaceae. These are prized for their long-lasting flowers which under appropriate growing conditions can sometimes last the full year.
| Native To: | India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Moth orchids prefer warm, ambient conditions and should be watered weekly during the flowering season (we generally recommend not watering orchids with ice cubes). |
| Light Preferences: | Thrives best in bright, well-lit rooms. |
| Flowering Season: | Can bloom year-round. |
45) Cattleya Orchid
About Cattleya Orchids:
The genus of orchids got its name in 1824 by John Lindley after horticulturalist William Cattley. These beauties are loved for their exotic charm and boast over 50 different varieties covering numerous color palettes.
| Native To: | South America – Costa Rica south to Argentina. |
| Houseplant or Garden: | Houseplant |
| General Care: | Cattleya orchids prefer consistently mild to warm growing conditions ranging from around 70F to 85F. Allow soil to dry almost completely before re-watering. |
| Light Preferences: | Thrives best in plenty of bright, indirect light. |
| Flowering Season: | Typically spring through fall each year. |
Orchid Types FAQ:
What is the best way to care for orchids?
As with all plants, the trick is finding the right balance of light, watering, feeding, and temperature for the orchid to thrive in your unique living environment. Aim to position your orchid in a location that receives bright to moderate indirect light throughout the majority of the day, and be careful not to over-water the plant, which can quickly lead to root rot. Fertilize orchids with a dedicated water-soluble orchid feed once a month during the spring and summer only. Also – keep on top of any common orchid plant bugs, pests, and diseases.
How long does an orchid live?
With due care and attention, orchid plants have been known to live for 100 years or more!
What time of year do orchids bloom?
Most orchid species typically bloom in the spring, summer, or fall months.
Do orchids need sunlight?
All orchids need some form of sunlight just be careful to avoid bright direct sunlight for extended periods as this burns and causes the delicate blooms to wilt and turn a yellowish color.
What do orchids symbolize?
Orchids are traditionally symbolic of fertility. The respective color of the orchid plant will also carry additional meaning and symbolism in the language of flowers.
Orchids for Every Home and Every Garden
Orchid enthusiasts abound everywhere in the world. So, no matter where you live — unless you’re camped out on the side of a glacier — you’ll be able to find a variety of orchid species that will thrive inside your home or outside in your garden. What’s more, with a little care, orchids can live for many years to come and will happily rebloom throughout the growing season.
For more, see our essential guide to caring for orchids whilst you’re away or on vacation and everything you need to know about orchid plant care after they finish blooming and how to manage orchids dropping leaves.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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