Cymbidiums are extremely hardy plants that reliably produce bountiful blooms each winter and spring. They are hardy to near-frost temperatures and tolerant of lighting from shade to full sun. No collection is complete without a Cymbidum of each color!

Cymbidium New Century 'Royal Smile'

A miniature plant with many 3" to 4" flowers in an upright spike.

Very nice bold markings in the lip.

Like all Cymbs, it is very temperature tolerant and the blooms last a very long time.

Cymbidium Sarah Jean
‘Ice Cascade’

A miniature plant with copious flowers on semi-pendant spikes.

Icy white flowers have a hint of green and a light streak of yellow down the center of the lip.

Like all Cymbs, it is very temperature tolerant and the blooms last a very long time.

Cymbidium Tahoma Glacier

A miniature plant with copious 3" flowers in a tightly upright spike.

Like all Cymbs,it is very temperature tolerant and the blooms last a very long time.

Cymbidium Wallguard 'Alice'

A miniature plant with large flowers; very tough and dependable bloomer produces bright yellow spikes each winter.

The flowers last a very long time... usually well over a month, often up to two months.

Even though this is a miniature plant, the flowers are over 3" wide each.

BS multi-bulb division

Dracula

The genus Dracula (DRAK-yew-lah) contains some of the showier, more bizarre and well known members of the pleurothallid group. From the Latin Dracula, a little dragon, the fancied flowers look like mythical beasts.

This genus was created in 1978 by Dr. Carl Luer by extracting certain species with hairy flowers (most of which are pendant) and curious lips from the genus Masdevallia; thus draculas are similar to the more commonly grown masdevallias, but differ in certain aspects of leaf and flower structure. Over 100 species are found in Central America and the northwest Andes, almost half the known varieties in Ecuador alone.

The most prominent parts of the Dracula flower are the three long sepals. These may be fused at the base, and can taper into long tails at the extremities. The sepals are often covered in dense hairs or warts. Two very small petals flank the tiny column, and they have nodules at the top which are often very dark in color and give the impression of being the little dragon’s eyes. The lip has two sections of varying size, the hypochile at the center of the flower, and the outer part of the lip, the epichile. The lip is often deeply furrowed, like the gills underneath a mushroom's cap. This is an example of adaptive evolution, as the mimicry is meant to attract the small mushroom-feeding flies that pollinate the flower. The epichile may be large and curled, either upwards like a ladle, or round in a semicircle. In some species, the lip is hinged near the column and highly mobile.

Some interesting history: Draco is Greek for fantastic lizard/dragon. ulus is a Latin diminutive suffix. Together they make "Little Dragon" or in the case of the historical Count Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, "son of the dragon." In Romanian, however, dracul means "devil" so it is possible that the original Dracula was not "little dragon" or "Son of the Dragon" but rather "son of the Devil." Given the genus' aerial habit and pendant flowers, it is probable that Dr. Luer had flying dragons in mind when he split this genus from Masdevallia in 1978.

Cultivation: Temperature requirements vary, though most do well in intermediate to cool conditions, and light requirements are generally low to moderate. Moisture requirements are almost always high, and sphagnum moss is used to pot (or serve as a bed when mounting) most species. Since they are often wet, and the temperature may be cool, excellent and vigorous air movement is essential to ward off fungi and bacterial problems. The inflorescences often grow downward so potting in net or slat baskets is suggested for these plants. This genus can also handle the most watering; indeed, some growers even keep the pots in trays of water.

Potting mixes consist of varying combinations of fine bark chips, osmunda fiber, tree fern or cork mounting slabs, and sphagnum moss. Sphagnum is by far and away the most commonly used medium.

• SPMN = specimen plant with multiple blooming size growths
• BS = blooming size, will flower at next appropriate flowering season for that plant
• NBS = near blooming size, may flower at next season for that plant
• L SDL = large seedling, 1-2 years until blooming size
• SDL =  seedling, 2+ years until blooming size

Plants with a perfume bottle next to their name are fragrant.

• Cool to Intermediate = 48°F min. to 78°F max.
• Intermediate to Cool = 52°F min. to 80°F max.
• Intermediate = 55°F min. to 85°F max.
• Intermediate to Warm = 58°F min. to 88°F max.
• Warm = 65°F min. to 95°F max.

• Moist = water often; do not let dry completely
• Slightly Moist = 2-3 waterings per week; let dry slightly between waterings; in warm weather water daily (possibly more than once)
• Slightly dry = 1-2 waterings per week; let dry entirely between waterings
• Dry = 1 watering per week or less; let dry completely for a couple days or longer between waterings

Some orchids require seasonal differences. These are designated by growing season first/dormant season second.