Tiger Orchid Dendrobium gracilicaule
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Tiger Orchid:
- Phonetic Spelling
- den-DROH-bee-um grass-il-lih-KAW-lay
- Description
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Leopard orchid is a tropical, epiphytic (or lithophytic) herbaceous perennial in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is native to Australia and islands of the western Pacific, including Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. The species epithet is taken from the Latin for “slender stem.”
The growing conditions are like those for hard-cane dendrobiums, such as D. phalaenopsis and its hybrids. It needs bright light (a south-facing window is good), warm to intermediate temperatures, and frequent watering during the growing season. When the plant is dormant, the watering should be greatly reduced. A distinct day and night fluctuation in temperature (70 to 85 degrees F in the day and 60 to 70 degrees F at night) encourages flowering, so plants grown in a home with a constant temperature may not flower well.
The leopard orchid is grown for its bright, showy, fragrant flowers. The plant has cylindrical, yellowish green, spotted pseudobulbs, which are the inspiration for the common name.
This is an easy-to-grow, houseplant or greenhouse orchid. It can spend its summers outdoors.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: These plants have few problems. They are generally not affected by pests, but watch for mealybugs. Insufficient light results in non-blooming.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dendrobium
- Species:
- gracilicaule
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Australia, Norfolk Is., Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia
- Distribution:
- cultivated worldwide.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Up to 30 1/2 inch yellow, green, or cream colored flowers (some with brown blotches on their back) in unbranched racemes emerging from the top of the pseudobulb.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Three to seven thin leaves (5 inches by 2 inches) grow from the top 1/3rd of the pesudobulb and are elliptical in shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
