Dendrobium christyanum

Dendrobium christyanum is from Thailand, Vietnam and China and has huge flowers for the size of the plant.  My plant is about 5 cm tall and the flowers are about the same size.  It belongs to the group of Dendrobiums known as nigrohirsute Dendrobiums, referring to the black hairs with which the plant is covered and it is sometimes found under the older name, Dendrobium margaritaceum  It blooms in the summer and is temperature tolerant.  The flowers are fragrant.

Paphiopedilum helenae

This species is one of the smallest of the Paphiopedilums and a fairly recent discovery (1996).  Paphiopedilum helenae is from Vietnam and the plant is only 12 cm across with 5 cm flowers.  I've seen different examples of the species and there is considerable variation in flower color and shape, but I have not seen any that were not charming.  Interestingly, this species does best for me when grown with my Masdevallias and New Guinea Dendrobiums in cooler conditions.  Perhaps that is just due to the fact that it gets higher humidity and better light when grown with them, but it thrives and blooms under those conditions.

Paphiopedilum helenae

This is a Paphiopedilum I would not be without.  It is one of the smallest of the Paphiopedilums and a very recent discovery (1996).  Paphiopedilum helenae is from Vietnam and the plant is only 12 cm across with 5 cm flowers.  I've seen different examples of the species and there is considerable variation in flower color and shape, but I have not seen any that were not charming.  Interestingly, this species does best for me when grown with my Masdevallias and New Guinea Dendrobiums in cooler conditions.  Perhaps that is just due to the fact that it gets higher humidity and better light when grown with them, but it thrives and blooms under those conditions.

Cirrhopetalum frostii

I do not grow a lot of Cirrhopetalums or Bulbophyllums, but this is one I have had for many years and it  finally bloomed for me this spring.  It is an attractive plant with fat 2 cm oval pseudobulbs closely spaced along a thick rhizome and  4 cm oval leaves.  The short flower spike comes from the base of the pseudobulb and has two or three flowers, 3 cm in size, that are often compared to a Dutch wooden shoe or a slipper.

Dendrobium christyanum

Dendrobium christyanum is from Thailand, Vietnam and China and has huge flowers for the size of the plant.  My plant is about 5 cm tall and the flowers are about the same size.  It belongs to the group of Dendrobiums known as nigrohirsute Dendrobiums, referring to the black hairs with which the plant is covered and it is sometimes found under the older name, Dendrobium margaritaceum  It blooms in the summer and is temperature tolerant.  The flowers are fragrant.

Paphiopedilum helenae

This is the smallest species in the genus, Paphiopedilum, and also one of the most recent discoveries, having been found and described in 1996.  My plant has a span of a little over 12 cm and the height of the plant with the flower is only 8 cm, a charming little thing.  The flower is between 4 and 5 cm in height and spread.  The species shows considerable color variation and this plant has a darker pouch than most I've seen.  Since its discovery it has been used in hybridizing in an attempt to produce miniature Paphiopedilums, but none of the hybrids I've seen are as nice as the species itself.

Schoenorchis seidenfadenii

Schoenorchis seidenfadenii is tiny but charming orchid related to the huge Vandas.  It grows in a little fan of thick fleshy leaves and produces an abundance of tiny pinkish flowers in the spring.  The individual flowers are less than 1 cm in size but are born on densely flowered sprays.  It is native to Thailand and Vietnam and is best grown mounted.  It is supposed to be warm growing, but I have it with my cool growing plants where it does very well, growing and blooming reliably.