Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Why is it called Nun Orchid

Phaius tankervilleae " Chinese Ground Orchid, Nun Orchid

🌹 Why is it called Nun Orchid

🔠 Phaius tankervilleae – Chinese Ground Orchid - is a magnificent terrestrial orchid. It is also called the Nun Orchid because its flowers resemble the traditional white wimple and brown habit worn by nuns. The graceful, nodding blooms with white, rose, and brown hues create a shape reminiscent of a nun's veil. A truly heavenly plant!
🔠 It forms large clumps of bold, sword-like leaves and sends up towering flower spikes that can reach four feet tall! Each spike carries 10-20 fragrant blooms, unfurling in succession for an extended show.
🔠 The flowers are a striking mix of white, rose, and brown, blooming brilliantly in late spring, with peak flowering in March and April.
🔠 This hardy orchid spreads naturally, producing a new plant each year from a short bulb-like runner. It prefers shade, especially under trees, and can handle dry periods before its grand floral display.
🔠 Perfect for mass plantings, as a specimen in part shade, or even in pots, this orchid brings grace, beauty, and an exotic touch.

📚Learn more from previous posts:

Nematanthus wettsteinii x fritschii Bijou - Goldfish Plant

🐟Why is it called Gold Fish Plant? This is what the flower looks like...

🐡 Q: I saw this beautiful plant called Gold Fish, with extremely ornamental leaves with bright mauve underneath, really stunning! But what do the flowers look like? What is it about Gold Fish?
🐡 A: Nematanthus wettsteinii x fritschii Bijou - is called Goldfish Plant because its bright orange, tubular flowers look just like tiny, plump goldfish swimming through the foliage!
🐡 The blooms have a rounded, slightly curved shape, with a glossy texture that mimics the shimmer of fish scales. As they dangle gracefully from the stems, they create the illusion of a school of little fish darting among the lush, trailing green leaves.
🐡 Beyond its fun name, this plant is easy to grow, thrives in bright, indirect light, and blooms year-round with proper care. A playful, eye-catching beauty for hanging baskets and indoor gardens!

Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise

How to grow Bird of Paradise

⭐️ Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise (more photos in earlier post) - is incredibly easy to grow, especially in warm climates!
⭐️ This tough, low-maintenance tropical thrives in full sun to partial shade, needs well-draining soil, and can handle drought once established.
⭐️ It's resilient, long-lived, and nearly indestructible - perfect for beginners!
⭐️ To keep it happy, just give it regular watering during growth and occasional fertilizer for best blooms.
⭐️ It loves warm temperatures (zones 9-11), but in cooler areas, grow it in a pot and bring it inside during winter.
⭐️ With minimal care, you'll get stunning, bird-like orange and blue flowers that bloom year after year. A showstopper, a survivor, and a statement plant all in one!

Haemaria discolor - Jewel Orchid

💎 What is the cutest miniature plant

Haemaria discolor - Jewel Orchid - is a true gem of the plant world.
Jewel Orchid stuns with deep green leaves crisscrossed by glowing red veins, making it a showstopper even when not in bloom.
When it does flower, expect delicate, bell-shaped white blooms with golden centers, lightly fragrant and lasting up to three weeks!
This compact, low-growing orchid thrives in shade, perfect for containers or as an underplanting beneath trees. Easy to care for, it enjoys warmth, humidity, but no direct sun!
A must-have for a plant lover looking for drama and elegance in one.