Black Orchids! Do they really exist?

look like this? NO! Take a look at this group photo of several plants, these are all P. Jeff LaPoint hybrids.

I know you are all waiting for a Black Cattleya or a Vanda, so I went on a search to see if there was such a thing. Here are three beauties I found from Odom's Orchids. The Laeliocattleya Lc. Mem. Robert Strait "Blue Hawaii" is breath taking! It has the darkest lip I have seen on an orchid. A couple of my very favorite black orchids are Vandas. Vanda David Gardner '#1' and Vanda Motes Imperial 'Louise' have veins in the petals that are black/brown. These two look like they belong in a Halloween theme somewhere.

Here is just a few more that I found for your enjoyment. All of these have the nickname "Black Orchid." Are they really black? You decide.

• Cymbidiella humblotii

• Epigeneium amplum (Lindl.) Summerh. Nickname "Black tongued orchid"

• Bulbophyllum sp.aff.masdevillarum

• Bulbophyllum sp.

• Bulbophyllum hirundinis (Gagnep.) Seidenf.

• Bulbophyllum boukettae F.M.

• Miltonia Earl Dunn (Goodale Moir 'Golden Wonder' X Minas Gerias)

Are there "Black Orchids?" After doing the research for this article, I have to say yes! Is there one single orchid that holds the title "The Black Orchid?" I don't think so. I do believe that before long, the hybridizers will succeed in creating a totally black orchid. Will you, the public like it? Will you accept it? That is something we will have to wait and see.

Do you have a photo of a black orchid you would like to share? If you do, send it to me. I would be happy to post it for everyone to see. I would like to thank the following people for extending permission for the use of their photos for this article.

• Bulbophyllum photos Dale and Deni Borders
  
• AnTec Laboratory Home Page
  
• Bergstroms Orchids
  
• Miltonia Earl Dunn photo, Earl Dunn
  
• Florafest Orchids
  
• Orchid Digest Magazine
  
• Jay's Species Page
  
• SyuTyuSen's Orchid Photo Album
  
• Odom's Orchids
  
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Home Page

Next month I will be writing about the STRANGE world of orchids. I will tell you about some of the more unusual orchids such as the ones that grow underground and others that need fire to bloom.

Happy Orchid Growing
The Orchid Lady

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