There are few flowers quite as sought after and elegant as that of the orchid. Even those who claim they do not love flowers will stop in their tracks when they spot a stunning orchid in their line of vision. While orchids are one of the less common plants gifted on special occasions, they are one of the most common plant groups found in the world. Read on and learn more about this stunning bloom!
History of orchids
Did you know that orchids are actually one of the oldest flowering plants known to man? In fact, scientists have discovered a fossilized bee carrying orchid pollen dating back at least 15 million years! Scientists have speculated that orchids have been around even longer than that, possibly as far back as 100 million years.
Types of orchids
With over 30,000 types of orchids known to man, it may be difficult to know where to begin. Here's a small sampling of popular types and species.
- Phalaenopsis Orchid
- Dendrobium Orchid
- Cattleya Orchid
- Vanilla Orchid
- Cymbidium Orchid
- Epidendrum Orchid
- Oncidium Orchid
- Miltonia Orchid
- Vanda Orchid
- Odontoglossum Orchid
- Nun’s Orchid
What orchids symbolize
In general, orchids represent luxury, beauty and strength. Keep in mind when gifting orchids, different types and colors can convey different messages. Learn more about the specific types of orchids and their meanings!
Why orchids are special
Orchids are known not only for their beauty, but also for the fact that they “trick” the bees that pollinate them. Some species of orchids emit a special scent to attract pollinators. Others go as far as to resemble their female counterparts.
Although unparalleled in beauty, the orchid plant is not purely used for its aesthetic purposes! In fact, the ancient Greeks believed certain species to be aphrodisiacs. Additionally, a byproduct of one specific variety can be found in almost every household! That’s right, one of the most common food preparation ingredients, vanilla, is actually cultivated from a seed pod of the Vanilla Orchid – now isn’t knowledge sweet?!
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Celebrate every occasion and holiday with Michelle Yastremsky! Join her as she comes up with creative ways to make your holiday party stand out!