ORCHIDS

Orchids are currently the most popular houseplant in the UK, and come in virtually every colour except blue - there are even black and green orchids. Their name comes from the Greek "orchis" meaning testicle, because of the shape of the bulbous roots. Indigenous to tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world such as Asia, South and Central America. Some are native to the UK.

Orchids are the largest family of the plant kingdom with over 25,000 naturally occurring species in the world, as well as all the specially-developed hybrids! Most houseplant orchids are either Phalaenopsis (fa-le-NOP-sis) (moth orchid), dendrobium, vanda, paphiopedilum (paff-eeo-PEDDY-lum) (slipper orchid) or cymbidium (sim-BIDDY-um).

Orchids can last 2 or 3 weeks cut and over a month on the plant. They like regular misting. Some, like Phalaenopsis adapt to central heating better than others. The world's largest orchid can grow to 20 metres long.

Confucius acknowledged orchids saying, "the association with a superior person is like entering a hall of orchids". In 1595 a Chinese flower-arranging book "A Treatise of Vase Flowers" by Chang Ch'ien -te said orchids were in the top ranking of desirability.

Choose from our amazing selection of Orchids below: