What are the eight traditional varieties of Chinese Cymbidium (Chunlan)? A detailed guide to the classic famous cultivars

1、Song Mei

Petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: Selected during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty by Song Jinxuan of Shaoxing, hence it is also known as Song Jinxuan Mei.

Characteristics: Due to differences in bud mutation from cultivation, the flowers can open as lotus-type narcissus (he xing shui xian) or plum-type narcissus (mei xing shui xian). The three outer petals are especially tight and round, the petals are thick with thin edges, curling slightly inward as if bordered. The petal base is tightly closed, and the petal tips protrude slightly. Silkworm-moth shen (can e peng), liu hai tongue (liu hai she), with irregular red dots on the tongue; the bract leaves are pale red. When the orchid plant is strong, it often produces double flowers. The flower scape is tall, the leaves are dark green, semi-arching, with blunt tips, relatively wide blades, and glossy leaf surfaces. The beauty of the leaf posture is beyond description, making it an outstanding famous variety among plum-petal Chinese Cymbidiums. Along with Wan Zi, Long Zi, and Ji Yuan, it is listed as one of the "Four Great Heavenly Kings" of Chinese Cymbidium, and is promoted as the first among the "Four Great Heavenly Kings."

    New buds are purplish-red. Leaves are about 20-30 cm long and about 1 cm wide. Leaf margins are serrated, the leaf texture is thick, soft yet firm. Leaf tips are relatively blunt. New leaves are glossy; old leaves are bow-shaped, with beautifully curved leaf posture. However, re-exported plants have mostly become semi-upright leaves with lighter leaf color. The flower scape is slender, reaching 12-15 cm tall, with flowers held above the leaves. The bracts are pink with a pale purple base. The main petal is centered and perfectly round; the side petals have level shoulders and round tips, just like plum blossom petals, with tight edges resembling a white border, green in color, with contracted base and rounded corners, five petals in separate sockets. The center is round and neat, the flower form is well-proportioned. The flower scape is tall and can rise above the leaf surface. The petals form a silkworm-moth shen, embracing the fragrant column. The lip is short and round, tilting slightly upward, with the tip curling up slightly like a child's liu hai (bangs), hence called liu hai tongue. The tongue surface usually has 2-3 red dots, but occasionally shows a white tongue phenomenon. According to reports, this is due to long-term artificial cultivation causing bud mutation, where red patches appear and then move below the column, commonly called "white tongue," but it is not a plain-heart (su xin) variety.

    When the orchid plant is robust, it easily produces double buds and twin flowers. When the orchid leaves grow especially vigorously, the flowers naturally become large, but most are plum-type narcissus petals; when the plant is short and sturdy, growing 20-25 cm, it often produces typical plum-petal flowers. Song Mei's floral artistry surpasses other Chinese Cymbidiums of the same petal type, yet it is not "delicate" - strong seedlings have a high sprouting rate.

2、Ji Yuan

Petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: "The early years of Xianfeng" is 1851 AD, selected in Yuyao by Zhang Shenglin. 

Characteristics: New buds are green with red on the stem. Old leaves all have a semi-arching posture. Leaves are glossy, 36.3 cm long and 1 cm wide. Leaf tips are blunt, leaf veins are deep, leaf texture is thick, and the foot sheath is high.

    The bract sheath color is red-green, with a red-purple base, the upper part having a green background with purple veins and mottling, becoming greener from outside to inside, with rich coloring. The flower bud is well-formed but not round, and the flower becomes larger and larger after emerging from the sheath. The ovary bract sheath has a white top; the three outer petals have white edges before fully opening. The shape of the three outer petals varies: with strong seedlings, the outer petals form a rounded plum petal, the petals are short, round, broad and large, comparable to Song Mei, the flower color is tender emerald green, and the petal base has a pale pink blush, making it especially charming, with level shoulders. When medium-sized plants bloom, the three outer petals open into large round heads with tight edges. Separate-socket soft silkworm-moth shen, with slightly red dots on the shen tips; the shen petals embrace in a neat and round manner; the ru yi tongue spreads but does not droop, with three red dots arranged in a triangular pattern. The three outer petals and shen petals are thick and glutinous in texture and have hidden green veins. The flower form is well-proportioned, the flower is large, and the color is charming. It has strong stress resistance, strong reproductive capacity, and is widely spread. It prefers cool summers. 

3、 Long Zi

Petal type: Narcissus petal (Shui xian ban)

History: During the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820), discovered at the "Thousand-Rock Dragon Vein" of Gaomiao Mountain in Yuyao, Zhejiang. Because of its large flower form, it is considered the finest lotus-type narcissus, also known as "Yao Yi Se."

Characteristics: Leaf posture is a mix of slanted-upright and mid-arching; the bottom leaves are boat-shaped, the side leaves mid-arching, the central leaves slanted. The leaf base is narrow and thin, commonly called "incense stick" foot. The middle of the leaf is broad, commonly called "mantis belly." The leaf tip is bluntly pointed, commonly called "eel tail." Leaves are 1-1.5 cm wide, 30-40 cm long, reaching up to 47 cm. The plant form is majestic, with glossy green leaves.

The bract shell is rose-red; usually 2-3 bract leaves are deep green, and at their best there are three and a half colorful shells; the ovary bract sheath is entirely green with white edges. The three outer petals are "greenfruit" shaped, closely resembling lotus petals, with excellent tight edges. The three petals embrace and open, with level shoulders, five petals in separate sockets. Soft guanyin dou shen; large spreading tongue, the tonguesurface usually adorned with three red dots in an inverted triangular pattern. The red flower form can be exceptionally large, reaching 7 cm, with an emerald green color that has a transparent quality. The flower stalk is emerald green, 15-25 cmtall. The flower is dignified and beautiful, with vigorous growth and good flowering ability. The largest and most colorful flower form among the "Four Great Heavenly Kings," historically praised alongside "Long Zi" and "Song Mei"as the twin jades of plum and narcissus.   

 4、Wan Zi

    Petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: Legend says it was discovered during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty in Nanhu, Jiaxing County, Zhejiang, and was first cultivated in the Wanjia Garden of Hangzhou, also known as Yuanhu Di Yi Mei.

Characteristics: Leaves are wider than Song Mei, soft in texture, with flat veins; side leaves have wavy ridges (xing long). The leaf blades have a strong fleshy feel and are glossy, but easily develop black spots, which become very obvious on leaves older than two years. The leaf tail upturns at about 4-5 cm from the end, appearing quite elegant. The central leaves are slender and ribbon-like, generally not exceeding 0.5 cm at the widest point.

The bract shell is bright purplish-red when emerging from the soil, with each shorter layer more colorful than the last; the flesh-hugging bract sheath has rich green coloring and a fleshy texture. The flower scape is tall, about 20 cm, with the top node white-green and the node bearing red coloring; the lower nodes are pale white-red with a green background. The shen is a standard silkworm-moth shen, tightly embracing the flower column, with a reddish tinge on the upper side. The ru yi tongue extends straight without curling back; the back of the tongue base has bright red color patches distributed very regularly. The petals are tightly round-headed, with finely contracted bases forming flat edges, giving an overall compact and spirited appearance.

5、Wang Zi

Petal type: Narcissus petal (Shui xian ban)

History: Selected and bred during the Kangxi period (1662-1722 AD) by Wang Keming of Fenghua. "Wang Zi" has survived for over three hundred years. As one of the "Four Great Famous Orchids," it is the representative variety of the narcissus petal type.

Characteristics: New buds are purplish-red. Leaves are 25-35 cm long, 0.9 cm wide. Side leaves slant and arch; middle leaves and new shoots are strongly upright. The leaf groove is deeper near the leaf foot, forming a "V" shape, and flatter near the leaf tip. The leaf tip tapers smoothly to a point; the leaf foot has a fine contracted base. Leaves are thick, dark green, lacking gloss.

    The flower bud is green with purple veins and mottling; the flesh-hugging bract sheath is emerald green. The flower stalk is slender, reaching 15-20 cm, pale purple. The flower column shows a white top. The three outer petals have long feet and round heads, contracted bases, tight edges. The main petal tilts slightly forward, appearing courteous; level shoulders, side sepals embracing. The flower color is goose-yellow like tender willow green. The shen petals have heavy white tops, round, neat, soft, smooth and glossy. The small round tongue spreads without curling, with red dots; it can also produce a white tongue, but it is not plain-heart - the red dots recede into the back of the tongue and are extremely clear when viewed from the tongue's back. "Wang Zi" is excellent in flower shape, flower posture, flower color, flower quality, and flower durability, remaining unchanged for months. It is the representative of the narcissus petal type and a variety with excellent bone strength among petal-type flowers.

 

6、He Shen

Plum petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: In the early years of the Republic of China (around 1912), produced in Yingge Mountain, Yuyao, Zhejiang, hence also known as "Yingge Mei." It is one of the "Eight Traditional Varieties of Chinese Cymbidium" of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The discoverer is no longer known. Selected and bred by Huang Chengqing of the Jiangnan Fusheng Tobacco Shop in Yuyao town.

    Characteristics: New buds are pale purplish-red. Leaf blades are relatively narrow, of medium-fine type, upright in habit. Only 0.8 cm wide, about 20-30 cm long. Leaf color is yellow-green; when grown in shade, leaf color is only emerald green, on the lighter side, gradually becoming slanted-arching with growth and development. Leaf blades are glossy, leaf tips blunt.

The flower scape is slender, about 12 cm tall. The leaf flesh is thick with a slight pale coloring, full of charm. The overall plant posture is elegant and graceful, containing curved beauty that endears it to orchid lovers. The flower stem is pale purple, with the top node turning green. The bract is rose-red. The three outer petals have contracted bases and round heads, appearing oblong; the petal edges curl inward, with excellent tight edges at the tips, shaped like a spoon. The three petals embrace with flying shoulders; the front of the petals is pure green, with green coloring at the tips. The ovary bract sheath has rich green coloring with red streaks on the back. Less light before flowering can reduce the red streaks. The two side sepal feet are slightly longer, with level shoulders, occasionally showing a "flying shoulder" shape. Liu hai tongue, slightly curling after full bloom, with pale red dots on the tongue surface. The petals are thick, forming a guanyin dou shen; both shen petals have red stripes inside and out. The flower is well-proportioned and dignified, with a charming color. In the past it was considered "rather difficult to cultivate" and not easy to flower; this flower is not easy to grow in Hangzhou. Actually, this is not the case - He Shen Mei is overcoming its "delicateness," and its growth is gradually flourishing.

 

7、Xiao Da

Petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: Selected during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty at a flower cellar in Suzhou. At the time, people argued and quarreled over it; scholars called quarreling "xiao da" (a small fight), hence the name.

    Characteristics: Its leaves are about 25 cm long, less than 1 cm wide, with a V-shaped leaf groove, glutinous and elastic in texture, with fine leaf feet. New leaves are slanted-upright; old leaves slant and arch. Five petals in separate sockets; the three outer petals are short and round, with tight edges. The petal flesh is glutinous and thick, green in color with white edges, with fine contracted bases. The main petal tip tilts forward like a cover. Shoulders are level or slightly drooping. The silkworm-moth shen is smooth and glossy, pale yellow, with white edges at the shen tips, tightly embracing the short round tongue, which has pale red patches. The center is perfectly formed, and the outer petals are also short and round, pure in color and correct in form. The flower scape is slender. "Xiao Da Mei" belongs to the small-form flowers of Chinese Cymbidium, small and beautiful. Excellent in both form and spirit, it is a fine variety of Chinese Cymbidium. It has been in circulation for over a hundred years.

 

8、Gui Yuan Mei

Plum petal type: Plum petal (Mei ban)

History: In the early years of the Republic of China, selected by Zhu Xiangbao of Shaoxing. Also known as "Sai Jinxuan," meaning: can compete with Song Mei. It is one of the "Eight Traditional Varieties of Chinese Cymbidium." 

    Characteristics: New buds are purple-green. Leaves are 25-30 cm long, 0.9 cm wide, dark green in color; new leaves are glossy. The leaf surface has a "V"-shaped groove. Medium-fine leaves, thick in texture, semi-arching in form. The leaf posture is extremely graceful and curved, with rich dark green color and striking gloss, making it one of the famous varieties with superior beautiful posture. Leaf color is dark, foot sheath is low. The flower scape is slender, about the same height as the leaf canopy. The flower stalk is emerald green, like the green stem color of a green plum fruit, but with a red tinge at the nodes. The bract is silver-red with a transparent quality, covered with purple veins and mottling. Because the flesh-hugging bract sheath tightly wraps the petals, and the three outer petals have hooked pointed tips, during blooming it is necessary to gently perform a "picking open" procedure to achieve a well-proportioned flower form and flat petals. The three outer petals are short and round, the flower flesh is plump and thick, the color is pure green, with flat edges, five petals in separate sockets. The flower form is round and neat, with tight edges. The two side sepals have level shoulders, appearing full of vitality. The petals form a he-bei semi-hard dou shen. The shen is small; the lip is a small liu hai tongue, with three to five bright red dots on the tongue surface. The flower stem is one cun five or six. The whole plant appears simple and lovely. The plant is robust; after flowering, it should be placed in a slightly sunny location, otherwise it is not easy to produce flowers.