Old World Orchid Bulbophyllum appendiculatum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cirrhopetalum appendiculatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- bulb-oh-FY-lum a-pen-dik-yoo-LAY-tum
- Description
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Old World Orchid is a small epiphytic orchid native to the Himalayan mountains and to parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. It is sometimes called Stinking Bulbophyllum because its showy flowers have an unpleasant fragrance, though it is difficult to detect unless you are up close. The plant freely flowers throughout the year.
Old World Orchid needs high humidity, good drainage and air circulations, and indirect light to thrive. It should be kept moist with 3 to 5 waterings a week and soil that lightly dries between watering. The plant is also temperature sensitive requiring a range of 58 to 88 degrees F.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bulbophyllum
- Species:
- appendiculatum
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Himalaya to Assam
- Distribution:
- Northeastern India and Sikkim
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- One to four showy 5 inch flowers, pink with purple veins that have a musky, unpleasant fragrance, but you have to be up close to smell it. Blooms throughout the year.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Single leathery leaf is large, 3 1/2 to 6 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Accent
