Native Orchids

Find Australia's showiest orchids

Cooktown Orchid Dendrobium phalaenopsis Queen of Sheba Orchid

Queen of Sheba Orchid is a rare find to be found mostly on the south coast of Western Australia. It is one of over 800 varieties found in Australia.

Epiphytes are tree-dwellers that grow on other plants and thus are mainly found in the forested areas of the tropics and the east coast down into Tasmania. About a quarter of Australia's orchids are Epiphytes

Lithophytes like moist rocks and likewise are found in the tropicals and mountainous areas of the east coast.

Both these types of Australian orchids bloom at any time throughout the year depending on the species, the current conditions and area where they are growing.

Terrestrial orchids are the most common Australian orchid growing in the ground in undisturbed conditions [eg under trees and rocks] and depending on the species can flower throughout the year but more so in Spring.

So wherever you go in Australia keep an eye open for these fragile-looking but sturdy little creature like flowers.

Famously tho the south coast of Western Australia is home to over 400 types of orchids with specialties like the Queen of Sheba and the Leafless Orchid to be found on rare occasions in the right season.

Cooktown Orchid are found in northern Queensland and used to grow in abundance around Cooktown but today is quite rare. The plant grows up to 80 cm in height and can have from 3 to 20 flowering canes up to 1.5 cm in diameter. The stems that hold the flowers are 10 to 40 cm long and can carry a number of flowers.

The flowers that are normally deep to pale lilac in colour and about 3 to 6 cm wide. The common name, Cooktown Orchid, refers to Cooktown in northern Queensland which is situated on the Endeavour River which was named by Captain Cook after his ship was repaired there in 1770.

It usually flowers in the dry season in the wild, and sometimes flowering all through year when cultivated.

It grows naturally in northern Queensland, even tho it is not rainforest species it can be found in tropical areas with very high summer rainfall. It also grows in exposed situations, attaching to trees like the paperbark.

Cooktown Orchid makes an ideal cut flower especially in autumn and winter months and can last up to two weeks. On the plant flowers are able to last for some months making it an ideal plant flowering plant for interior decoration as lond as it is placed into suitable for warm and well lit rooms.

The Cooktown Orchid is considered to be one of Australia's showiest orchids and has been successfully cultivated in heated glasshouses. The plant has been in England since the latter part of the nineteenth century. In more recent times exports have been made from Australia to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the United States of America.