Dendrobium spectabile 'Dark'

Dendrobium spectabile is native to Melanesia (from Papua New Guinea to New Caledonia).

This spectacular species grows there as an epiphyte in primary rainforests and mangrove swamps at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,000 meters, though it is most commonly found at elevations between 300 and 500 meters. It is a fairly large species, with pseudobulbs up to 60 cm long, which bear only 2 to 5 leathery leaves, each about 10 to 20 cm long, at their tips.

It blooms from winter into spring, producing about 10 to 20 flowers per inflorescence, which appears near the tip of the pseudobulbs. The flowers are bizarrely shaped, with curled, yellow petals and a similarly curled lip that has a yellow base color and reddish-brown markings.

Dendrobium spectabile is easy to care for, but it grows slowly, and you’ll need a lot of patience to bring out its spectacular flowers.

You’ll receive a young plant in a 9 cm orchid pot; about 3 to 4 years to flowering size.