Blue. The rarest of the orchids and that most difficult to attain, therefore said to embody rarity, is the simply beautiful, blue orchid.
Dubbed as Europe's rarest orchid of all time, the Hochstetter's butterfly orchid (Platanthera azorica) was first discovered in 1838 but was so rare that it was never seen or heard of until scientists found it on one volcanic ridge in the Azores in 2013.
While green is the color of luck and harmony, green orchids are associated with nature, longevity, good health, good fortune, and blessings. In Japan, you might find green orchids in homes or offices to bring “good fortune” in both life and business.
However, the ghost orchid is a rare and endangered plant species that does not flower reliably. Habitat destruction and hydrologic changes due to human development in South Florida have been partially responsible for the decline of ghost orchid populations.
The Early Purple Orchid was once a common plant, found in a variety of habitats. Sadly, these have also been places where urban development and modern farming methods have taken their toll. Although it is still found at sites throughout the UK it is by no means as abundant as it once was.
Are Blue Orchids Real? Most true blue dendrobium orchids or blue Phalaenopsis orchids are fake. They are generally Phalaenopsis orchids that have a vibrant blue dye injected into the base of the flower to make their flower petals a vibrant blue.
In some states, this orchid is now rare or listed as endangered due to habitat destruction and unscrupulous collecting. You should only purchase nursery propagated plants from reputable growers. Like other orchids, Grass Pink Orchid can be vulnerable to browsing by White-tailed Deer and other herbivores.
Beautiful and delicate, this orchid is one of the rarer gems to be found on our rapidly diminishing grasslands. Lesser butterfly-orchid has a single flowering spike that can reach up to 30 cm in height.
Are jewel orchids rare? Some jewel orchids are still considered rare, but many are becoming readily available thanks to modern propagation techniques. You can easily get your hands on the three main species.
For this reason, bee orchids are one of our commonest species, colonising far and wide (at least across much of England – they are highly localised in Wales and largely absent from Scotland).
White orchids symbolize innocence and purity, as well as elegance and reverence. Pink orchids symbolize femininity, grace, and joy. Yellow orchids symbolize friendship and new beginnings.
Popular orchids like Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, and Cymbidium can be found in a multitude of colors, including pink, white, red, green, orange, blue, yellow, and purple.
Orchid lovers enjoy a life of luxury
“This beauty often comes with a price, as they can be quite temperamental; if one element is off in their environment, they may refuse to cooperate and will withhold their full beauty,” she says.
Meet the Purple Orchid—a beginner-friendly Phalaenopsis orchid with vivid purple blooms edged in white. Phalaenopsis orchids typically bloom about once a year for up to three months.
There are very few orchid species that are blue in color, but they do exist. Most are very rare, meaning you won't find them in your local garden center – if you ever come across them at all. One is more widely available than the other, but is still quite hard to find and very difficult to care for.
Caladenia filifera, commonly known as the blood spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a relatively common orchid in its natural range, often forming clumps, and has a single hairy leaf and up to three blood-red flowers.
Although most commonly cultivated genera have green species, they are certainly not common. Below we present a sampling of favorite green orchids.
Habenarias have been promoted as being among the most difficult orchids to grow.
Fairy-slipper is a rare orchid in New England, being found only in northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) dominated swamps in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Orchids can live up to 100 years! Some orchids bloom for mere hours, others for months. Depending on the species, some orchid flowers will only bloom for a few hours. Other varieties can have blooms lasting months.
Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae)
The plant has become increasingly rare due to over collecting and habitat reduction. It has a tall, leafy stem that bears 1-2 white-petaled flowers with a brilliant pink pouch, blooming in late June and into July.
In the wild, orchids are able to live about 20 years, depending on the type of orchid and the environment. Potted orchids do not have quite the same life span, but with proper care, it is not usual for orchids to live for between 10 to 15 years. There are some reports of orchids living for significantly longer.
Orchids blossom in a variety of different beautiful colors. Vibrant reds, pinks, purples…the list goes on. There are two shades, however, that orchids do not naturally blossom in: a true blue or a true black. They simply do not have the genetic makeup to make these pigments.
Favorite orchids like Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, and Cymbidium can come in hues of red, pink, white, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow. While the general meaning of orchid ranges from charm and beauty to refinement and fertility, these marvelous blooms are perfect for any celebration, even to simply spread joy.
Whilst the majority of ornamental orchids traded internationally today are cut flowers and plants grown in greenhouses, there is still a large-scale commercial trade in wild, often illegally-collected plants.