Identifying Orchids
Don't know which type of orchid you've got? Identifying orchids is most easily done by looking at the flowers. Unfortunately, there are so many kinds of orchids that only expert taxonomists can reliably identify all of them. (And even they might have a lot of trouble with all the hybrid orchids.) The most reliable way to identify a plant is usually to look at the label. If it has the orchid's name, you're done! Unfortunately, many plants are sold without nametags, and it's easy to lose the nametag too, especially while repotting orchids. (Always set the label aside, and remember where you put it for when the process is done!) If you've lost the label, then it gets tricky. If you know the plant's genus (for example, it's fairly easy to recognize a Phalaenopsis, once you've seen enough of them. And if the flower has a pouch, it's one of the Cypripedioideae, or lady slipper orchids.), then try doing an image search on Google for that genus, and see if anything looks like your orchid. If you don't know the plant's genus but you know what the flowers look like, try browsing my section on orchid types to see if anything resembles your orchid. That may help you to narrow it down. If the plant isn't in flower, you'll have to ask yourself some questions about its vegetative characteristics. Is it monopodial or sympodial? If it's monopodial, it's probably related to Phalaenopsis and Vanda, or maybe Vanilla. Most orchids are sympodial, so that's less helpful. Does it have pseudobulbs? Do you get a series of leaves along a long cane? If you can spot any old flower stems, where do they emerge from the plant? Is there any indication as to how many flowers appear on each stem? Growth characteristics like this can help you narrow it down to a genus. If you know the plant's country of origin in the wild, that's a big help too; this is particularly helpful if you go on a trip to take pictures of orchids in the wild, and want to identify what you've seen. (Most orchids are protected species, so orchid collecting trips need special permits, especially if you transport the plants across international borders afterward. Most typically, you need a phytosanitary certificate from your home country, a collection permit from the plant's native country, and a CITES permit to transport it in between.) Unfortunately, with 30,000 wild orchid species and hundreds of thousands of man-made hybrids, it's hard to give a complete system for identification. Look at a lot of pictures until you find one that looks like your orchid, then hopefully that's it, or at least it's a useful clue. You can also take it to a local orchid society and ask other people to help you figure out what it is; they just might recognize it!Stumped? Ask This Site's Visitors for an ID!
If you're having trouble identifying an orchid, post some photos with a description. Hopefully other visitors will recognize the plant! I'll try to help, too!
Other Visitors' Orchid Identification Challenges
Click the links below to see plants other visitors are trying to identify and help out...
Purple terrestrial orchid. 
I got this orchid at a flower market in Taiwan.
It has purple flowers that so far haven't opened very wide.
The flowers point downwards.
There …
Need ID for orchid given as gift
Just got this today from a friend.
Monopodial.
No blooms right now.
The leaves are about 20+cm or nearly a foot long by about 5-7cm(2-3 inch) wide. …
Giant Spike, still growing!!!
I rescued this orchid from a friend, it was attached to a corn stalk type bark, I separated half and put what you see in the pot, the other half went into …
margarite holm 134
Had a smaller orchid plant with the label, "Margarite Holm 134" or "Marguerite Holm 134".
I believe it was a Cymbidium or a Cattleya, though the leaves …
can't figure out what kind of orchid is
i don't have many information about this plant, just that my father-in-law brought it from the philippines. it seems to have pseudobulbs and each of them …
Does anyone have any idea what this Dendrobium(?) looks like in flower
I've been searching to find a picture of this type of orchid in flower. Its leaves are thick and very stiff, stiffer than the phals leaves. Due to its …
Picky Orchid- worth the wait!
Received this orchid from a friend, but I wasn't able to make it happy enough to bloom for four years! Now in bloom, it was definitely picky, but worth …
Lynn
Trying to help a friend make an identification. This plant has been owned by a woman for at least 30 years. When the flower opens it looks like something …
Texas plant
Green wide leaves, 8 foot tall
Unknown orchid
helping out a friend to identify such beautiful flower.
Can you help me identify this orchid given as gift?
The flowers are rather large (a good 4 1/2 inches across) and have a dark red throat that looks like it could hold water! From that point it fades into …
What is this beautiful flower and how do I take care of it?
Hello, Any help is much appreciated! I went to a funeral yesterday and the plant that the family gave away was this beautiful mini flowered orchid (I …
New Purchase
The flower shape resembales an oncidium but the way they are arranged on the spike reminds me of an epidendrum as well as the thick leaves. it is a releatively …
Need help to identify orchid
Picture attached
What is this one? Miltonia? Miltoniopsis? I think it has pseudobulbs.
What is this one? Miltonia? Miltoniopsis? I think it has pseudobulbs (showing in picture). Thank you!
too many orchids resemble this one
I bought this one in a generic shop and it was tagged phalaenopsis if I remember it right... well, I'm not sure about this.
It's a lot prolific, I had …
What is this?
I took several pictures of the flowers and the plant itself.
It was previously in a basket and we moved it , separating it in two, one in a little …
Please help. I need to Identify this...
The flowers are little and deep purple as you can see, and also came in like some sort of ball shape at the end of a stick.
The plant is like 30 cm …
Hybrid L.C. Wri.....? x L. ??
A very healthy hybrid with florescence 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" at the end of a 16' spike which extends from the top of a 4" oval pseudobulb which also has 2 or …
Anyone know what type of orchid this is?
I believe it is a type of Cattleya based on the long flat leaves. When it flowers, it is a beautiful ball of pink and white spotted flowers. I have never …
What is this?
Know nothing about orchids. Got this as a gift and want to take proper care of it. Can anyone help?
Thanks.
It is a minature orchid
Can you tell me the type of orchid this is and what care it needs? See picture
Terrestrial Orchid
This flower is growing in my Mothers back yard, first time ever! It has 6-8 inch long, orchid looking leaves, growing close to the ground, 18-24 inch tall …
What the heck is this, please?
Sorry, don't have any info. Was a gift to my mother and she no longer has the label or care instructions. In addition, I am a novice gardner (1st year …
Young Phalaenopsis?
Complete newb here, so I thought instead of trying to describe it I would just provide some pictures. I bought it at lowes when it was just a tiny sprout …
Does anyone recognise this orchid?
What kind of orchid is this?
does anyone recognise it?
I havent seen any pictures of it on google/yahoo searches or on any other orchid sites/stores. …
"Piney Woods" Orchids
I have an orchid I would like to identify.
I have these growing in pots, as well as in the ground outside in Austin Texas, where they have been growing …