What Type of Plant Is an Orchid?

Plant Family

• Orchids are part of the Orchidaceae family, which is the largest group of flowering plants in the world.

Natural Habitat

• Orchids grow on every continent in the world except for Antarctica but flourish in tropical climates, particularly the Americas. They grow in soil or on rocks or trees.

Varieties

• Orchids come in all sizes, from as small as a dime to as big as a man's foot, and colors (except black). Orchids in Asian tend to be brightly multicolored, whereas African orchids are white.

Use

• Because of the beauty of the plant, orchids are grown and used for mostly decorative purposes.

Care

• You can grow orchids in nurseries or at home. The light, water and humidity requirements of any particular orchid depend on its type.