Orchid Identification Tips: Learn to Easily Recognize Common Orchid Varieties

Cymbidium goeringii (Spring Orchid): Roots fleshy, white; leaves narrowly linear, about 20 cm to 25 cm long, with fine sharp serrations along the edges and prominent veins; each stem bears 1 to 2 flowers, yellow-green, with a delicate fragrance; blooms in early spring from February to March.

Cymbidium faberi (Faber's Cymbidium): Roots fleshy, pale yellow; leaves linear, more upright and thicker than those of Cymbidium goeringii, with rough leaf edges; one stem bears 5 to 13 flowers, pale yellow, with a greenish-white lip bearing red-purple spots; flowers are very fragrant; blooming period from April to May.

Cymbidium ensifolium (Four-season Orchid): Leaves broadly linear, mostly upright, with smooth leaf edges; one stem bears 16 to 12 flowers, yellow-green to pale yellow-brown, with dark purple stripes; fragrance is very strong; blooming period from July to September.

Cymbidium sinense (Chinese Cymbidium): Leaves 50 cm to 100 cm long, up to 3 cm wide, smooth, with pointed tips, upright in habit; flower stems about 60 cm tall; one stem bears 5 to 10 flowers; petals mostly have purple-brown stripes; blooming period from winter to early spring, with a fragrance.

Cymbidium kanran (Cold Orchid): Leaves narrow and upright; flower stems slender and upright, bearing 5 to 9 flowers; flowers small, with narrow petals, in colors including yellow, white, blue-green, red, and purple; delicately fragrant; blooming period from late autumn to early spring.