Can any orchid species compare with the wow factor of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum. As you can see from the first two photographs we have two large plants in flower today. They are different clones and one grows longer bulbs with longer thinner racemes of flowers while the second is stouter growing. When flowering really well the species is breathtaking.

This majestic species is native to Eastern Himalayas and South East Asia. We have seen it on school expeditions to Laos growing in the tops of tall trees in evergreen and semi deciduous forest at around 1000m where it experiences warm wet summers and a dryer cooler winter.

To reflect the natural habitat we grow the species in Warm Asia during the summer but move it to cool Americas for the winter which encourages perfect flowering as you can see from the photos.

The species is the second this week from Dendrobium section densiflorum after Dendrobium chrysotoxum (see below)

Both species produce grand racemes of flowers from near the top of the few leaved bulbs although the bulbs on thyrsiflorum are longer, thinner and rounder in section. We saw both species in Laos and had no problem telling them apart when not flowering.

It is sad that orchid project students are not able to enjoy this annual spectacle as it is always a high point in the greenhouse. The dendrobiums say hello hope to see you again soon 🙂