The Colors of Cymbidium Orchids

Green

• When most people think of orchids the first color that comes to mind is white, but green Cymbidium are luxurious and really unique for wedding arrays. The floral appeal remains even though they bring green hues to a bouquet. Green orchids range in color from nearly dark olive to pale seedling green. One example is the Alice Cymbidium that produces yellow-green flowers from February to March. Another example is the Atlantic Crossing "Featherhill" which has a distinctive purple center.

Purple

• Purple Cymbidium orchids often appear in centerpiece arrangements or other decorative sprays. Purple Taipei is one such orchid that has lush flowers and grows to about 30 inches tall. This particular Cymbidium holds its blossoms for up to three months. Another example is the purple hazel that has a vibrant white center setting off the petals. Or, consider something like the Lady Fire, which is a purple-red Cymbidium that blossoms just in time to make a perfect Valentine's gift.

White

• White lilies feature regularly in wedding arrangements of all sorts. One example of a white Cymbidium cultivar is the Lindley orchid. It has rich, green leaves set on a foot-long spike and huge, aromatic flowers that are pure, crispy white with only one yellow band in the center front lobe. This species flowers in February and March. There are two other cultivars of the Lindley, one of which is pure white with smaller flowers and another that has rosy spots on each side. The snowflake Cymbidium is another species with alabaster petals and a scent similar to apple blossom. These have a vase life of about four weeks.

Orange

• When you're looking for contrast or something that provides a harvest tone, orange Cymbidiums make a fantastic choice. Among the orange varieties there is the Clarisse, which borders on being bronze, and Santa Barbara, which has red-orange densely packed flowers. Other possibilities are the Vintage orchid, which bears vividly orange blossoms and the Aladdin, which is a very hardy growing bright orange orchid with a star shape.

Other Varieties

• The variety of hues in the Cymbidium family line makes a feast for the eyes. There are literally too many to list. As a sampling, however, among red varieties there are the Cabernet orchids, which have wine-colored flowers, and Beauty Stripes, which are medium red with white stripes. Yellow selections include Helios, which is sun-yellow, and Isabelle, a bright yellow, late-blooming orchid. Finally among pink Cymbidium there are the Prolific Pink orchids that produce medium pink flowers readily, and Lolitas, which are also very productive and pale pink.