Orchid Species Preservation Foundation

12/16/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘖𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘴 🌿

𝘖𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘴 is an epiphytic orchid found across islands in the western Indian Ocean. It has erect, leafy stems and produces arching sprays of white to green-tinged flowers arranged in two neat rows.

✨ Fun Fact: The species name 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘴 means 'many spikes', referring to its multiple flower spikes that can carry a dozen or more blooms on each arching inflorescence.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

12/09/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 🌿

𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 is a slender, elegant species native to Madagascar. It produces star-shaped white flowers with long, narrow petals and a strikingly long nectar spur, giving it a light, airy look when in bloom.

✨ Fun Fact: Like many orchids from Madagascar, 𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 is endemic to the island, meaning it is found naturally nowhere else in the world.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

12/02/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 🌿

𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 is a striking species from the Himalayan region and Southeast Asia. It’s known for its dense, hanging clusters of golden-yellow flowers, each with a bright, almost egg-yolk-colored center. When in full bloom, the plant can be completely covered in cascading, glowing sprays.

✨ Fun Fact: The species name 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 means 'densely flowered', referring to the tightly packed blooms that make this orchid one of the most dramatic members of its group.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

11/25/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 🌿

𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 is a compact species found in Mexico and Guatemala. It produces branching sprays of bright yellow flowers with warm brown markings.

✨ Fun Fact: The species is named after Belgian plant collector Auguste Ghiesbreght, who documented many orchids during his explorations in Mexico in the 1800s.

This orchid can be viewed in the intermediate room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

11/18/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 🌿

𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 is a showy species from Colombia, known for its large, pastel-toned flowers. Petals are usually soft pink or lavender, paired with a bold, frilled lip marked in white, yellow, and deep magenta.

✨ Fun Fact: The name 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 refers to the mix of four distinct colors in the flower’s lip and petals, a feature that makes this species easy to pick out among other cattleyas.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

11/11/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒 🌿

𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒 is a miniature orchid native to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It produces clusters of small, creamy-white to pale yellow flowers with a soft pink or orange throat, usually blooming in spring.

✨ Fun Fact: The name 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒 means 'rough-tongued', referring to the slightly textured surface of the orchid’s lip.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

11/03/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘊𝘰𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 🌿

𝘊𝘰𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 is a small orchid from Borneo. It grows on trees and produces delicate, pale-colored flowers on short sprays from its pseudobulbs.

✨ Fun Fact: The species name 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 means 'without wings', referring to the shape of the flower’s lip.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

10/26/2025

10/20/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘢 🌿

𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘢 is a compact epiphytic orchid native to southern Mexico and Central America. It produces fragrant, waxy, pale green to cream flowers with a long, narrow lip, typically blooming in winter or early spring.

✨ Fun Fact: The species name 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘢 means 'bluish-gray', referring to the subtle gray-green hue of its leaves and flower sepals.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

10/14/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: 𝘡𝘺𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮 Helen-Ku 🌿

𝘡𝘺𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮 Helen-Ku is a hybrid known for its striking blend of green, brown, and violet tones, paired with the rich fragrance typical of its genus. Its broad, patterned petals and bold lip make it a standout among modern 𝘡𝘺𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮 crosses.

✨ Fun Fact: This hybrid is the result of a cross between 𝘡𝘺𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 and 𝘡𝘺𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮 Blackii, combining the wild elegance of the former with the deep color intensity of the latter.

This orchid can be viewed in the cold room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke

10/07/2025

🌿 Orchid of the Week: Bulbophyllum lobbi 🌿

Bulbophyllum lobbii is a large-flowered species native to Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Its broad, waxy petals range from golden yellow to deep orange, often accented with reddish streaks, and it’s one of the more striking members of its genus.

✨ Fun Fact: The species was named in honor of the English plant collector Thomas Lobb, who first sent it to Europe in the mid-1800s while working for the Veitch Nurseries.

This orchid can be viewed in the hot room of the OSPF Greenhouse. Tours of the OSPF Greenhouse are available by appointment only. Contact [email protected] to inquire.

📷: Devon Lemke