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Chinese Cymbidiums

© Linda Fortner

I hope you enjoyed last month's article about "The Count" and his favorite flowers. This month in the Orchid Garden, let's travel to the Far East and find the beautiful Asian Cymbidiums, also known as the Chinese Cymbidiums.

Cymbidiums are commonly grown world wide, many grow side by side with other flowers in gardens where the temperatures are mild. There is a subgenus of Cymbidiums, which is called Jensoa. It is this subgenus that is called the Chinese Cymbidiums. The five species that make up this subgenus are:

Cym. goeringii (Chun Lan)

Cym. ensifolium (Jian Lan)

Cym. kanran (Han Lan)

Cym.sinense (Mo Lan)

Cym. faberi (Hui Lan)

Chinese Cymbidiums have been very popular and in cultivation for centuries in China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The Chinese believe it is a great honor to give or receive one of these extraordinary orchids because they are considered symbols of virtuosity and friendship.

These orchids are prized for their fragrant blooms and graceful folage. Confucius called these magnificent plants the "King of Fragrance" in 500 BC, and they are still known by this nickname today. Orchids, for the most part, are not known for the beauty of their foliage. Chinese Cymbidiums are the exception to this rule. The leaves of these orchids are cherished as much as the blooms. In fact, variegated Cymbidiums are often judged in orchid shows without blooms because the foliage is so beautiful!

Each species of Chinese Cymbidiums blooms at different times of the year which allows owners of the different species to have at least one of them in bloom almost year round. The flowers tend to be small, but plentiful, sprouting from very tall spikes which can be twice as tall as the plant. In each species, the colors may vary greatly. Different variations of Cym. Sinense for example, can be pure yellow, red, white or a mixture of colors. The pure colored flowers are the most cherished and thus the most valuable.

In their natural environment, the Chinese Cymbidiums are found growing in the mountains from the lower elevations (Cym.sinese) to the mountaintops (Cym.faberi). Most of them require low shaded areas and constant moist surroundings. They can be typically found growing under other vegetation that filters out the hot sunshine.

Through the centuries the Asian people have created a very special vase to grow their Cymbidiums. The orchid vases are tall and narrow. Unlike the standard Cymbidiums whose roots tangle and make large masses, the roots of the Chinese Cymbidiums seldom branch