11 Orchids With Nearly Constant Blooms

Whether you’re an orchid expert or trying your hand at growing the exotic beauties, adding a long-blooming specimen to the collection increases the joy and diversity they offer. Some yield months of color, from easy-care varieties to more esoteric specimens. Explore the intrigue of long-flowering orchids with gardening expert Katherine Rowe for an extended display.

Vibrant yellow flowers display soft, overlapping petals and a central yellow-orange column, offering the look of an orchid with constant blooms and a full, sunny appearance.

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Orchids, with their exotic flowers in spectacular shapes and colors, have a long history of cultivation and variations in growth and blooming. The gardener’s reward for perfecting the care of the particular beauties is their lovely flowers and lengthy bloom time, as some varieties show color for months on end. 

Many orchids have the natural flowering cycle of once a year (like many of our favorite plants), while others experience constant blooms or hold their petals long on the stem. Easy-care species often rebloom in optimal growing conditions.

A healthy orchid lives for decades, blooming year after year and potentially multiple times a year. Their preferred cultural conditions are primary to healthy growing and flowering initiation.

Orchid Overview

Large, delicate flowers with broad, rounded petals display a pristine white color and a soft yellow lip at the center, accented by subtle purple markings.
Proper light, temperature, and water are essential for orchid growth.

Depending on your type of orchid, care requirements may be very specific. There are also lots of species that are more easygoing. With nearly 900 genera and tens of thousands of species and hybrids, the selection is diverse and teeming with specimens to add to your collection.

Terrestrial (ground orchids) root in the soil. Epiphytic types absorb moisture and nutrients through the air and live in the tree canopy of their native environments, while lithophytes dwell in rock crevices. Orchids occur across the globe, with the greatest variety from tropical Asia, where rainforest conditions give way to drenching rain cycles and drying out periods. Others are native to varying environments, including most parts of the U.S.

While it varies, most orchids need bright, indirect light to bloom. Other cultural conditions to consider are temperature, water, and air circulation. Most orchids need a difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures to bloom, with 10°F cooler at night. Take care not to overwater – while orchids are tropical plants, they don’t do well in overly damp potting media. Lastly, ensure roots have good air circulation and room in the pot.

For most orchids, light, temperature, and water are essential to flowering. Fertilizing, repotting, and care after the orchid blooms are also key considerations to maintain constant flowers.

Epidendrum ‘Purple Reed’

Tall, reed-like stems bear clusters of small, bright purple flowers with fringed petals.
This plant’s rich purple blooms thrive in partial sun or shade.
botanical-name botanical name Epidendrum ‘Purple Reed’
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 2-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

This evergreen terrestrial orchid from tropical America is floriferous year-round. It produces tall stems that hold ball clusters of rich purple one-inch blooms. Each leafy spike may have 30 or more buds.

Epidendrum ‘Purple Reed’ benefits from moist, humusy, well-draining soils. It grows beautifully under tree canopy and even tolerates partial sun in cool environments. It tolerates brief cold snaps down to 25°F (-4°C).

The sturdy stems develop keikis (Hawaiian for babies) over time. Clip these when they develop two to four-inch roots for transplanting to expand the collection.

Spathoglottis ‘Mellow Yellow’

Bright yellow blooms feature broad, rounded petals with a contrasting orange-yellow center and delicate, pointed sepals.
This tropical plant showcases stunning pale yellow and rose blooms.
botanical-name botanical name Spathoglottis ‘Mellow Yellow’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 15-20”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

Spathoglotti orchids are capable of display constant blooms year-round in areas where they are happiest. The easy-care specimens do well in moist soils with good drainage and overwinter indoors. They feature large, colorful, long-lasting blossoms.

‘Mellow Yellow’ is a terrestrial grower with a tropical flare. The pale, lemony petals are wide and have delicate rose-purple tinges and golden centers with a rich rose-colored labellum (the pollinator-attracting feature of the central column). 

Ribbed, strappy leaves are dark green and form an attractive foundation for the flowering spikes.

Paphiopedilum ‘Pinocchio’

Compact blooms feature pouch-like petals with subtle green and burgundy shades.
This captivating hybrid features long-lasting rosy pink blooms.
botanical-name botanical name Paphiopedilum ‘Pinocchio’
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 10-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-12

The Venus lady slipper is a genus with wild blooms and captivating details. The long-blooming performers are mostly terrestrial and relatively easy to care for despite their exotic appearance.  

‘Pinocchio’ is a hybrid cross of two species orchids, P. glaucophyllum and P. primulinum, both known for their long bloom times and robust growth. It features sequential blooming, with buds that open over a long period on a single spike.

‘Pinocchio’ blooms have a speckled rosy pink pouch, a flared green dorsal sepal (hood), and slender, flared side petals with burgundy spots. It’s a vigorous hybrid with a compact habit and easy-care nature. This one holds Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit status.

Vanda ‘Pachara Delight’

Vivid violet-blue flowers with round petals and intricate veins grow in a compact cluster.
This stunning hybrid showcases large, fragrant blue flowers.
botanical-name botanical name Vanda ‘Pachara Delight’
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 20-30”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-13

Vanda boasts large, fragrant, true blue flowers and prolific, all-season blooming in their optimal tropical and subtropical climes. While sometimes challenging to maintain outside of these conditions, orchid enthusiasts are happy to accept the test for the rewards the genus brings.

Vandas have extensive root systems and grow naturally in trees and sometimes rocks. These (and many others) are well-suited to containers and hanging baskets that provide good aeration for epiphytic roots.

‘Pachara Delight’ is a good starter Vanda. It has broad, rounded violet petals with soft, slightly frilled edges. ‘Sansai Blue’ is a compact hybrid with lavender-blue to deep purple tissuey blooms with white speckles.

Cymbidium ‘Valentine’s Love’

Close-up of a flower with large delicate green petals surrounding a striking white lip with crimson markings.
This hybrid features beautiful clusters of pale green blooms.
botanical-name botanical name Cymbidium ‘Valentine’s Love’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 20-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Cymbidiums may flower two or more times per year in fall, winter, and spring. These are easy to grow and make wonderful houseplants. They bloom in various colors, from white to apricot to dark red, in dense clusters on stout stems.

‘Valentine’s Love’ is a hybrid that blooms in the fall but can repeat flower. It doesn’t require temperature changes or special conditions to initiate the bloom cycle. 

‘Valentine’s Love’ has pale green petals, a white and gold throat, and scarlet labellum. The plants produce multiple spikes that hold six to eight buds each. 

Fiery Reed Epidendrum 

Fiery orange blooms with elongated petals emerge along sturdy, tall green stems.
This vibrant species features showy clusters of petite petals.
botanical-name botanical name Epidendrum ibaguense
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 2-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

This species and its cultivars may bloom any season of the year in warm sites. In bright red-orange, pink, and white, the petite petals form showy clusters on multiple stems.

Fiery reed (also crucifix orchid due to the bloom configuration) is native to northern South America, where it’s lithophytic, meaning it grows in rock crevices. The rugged grower is a good beginner selection and a pick for anyone looking to diversify the collection.

Fiery reed benefits from morning sun exposure or bright, dappled light and humid conditions. In cool areas, bring it inside after summering outdoors.

Oncostele ‘Wildcat’

Bold, spotted flowers blend yellow and burgundy in star-shaped blooms on branching stems.
These bold blooms feature striking burgundy and gold colors.
botanical-name botanical name Oncostele ‘Wildcat’
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 24-40”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-13

These wild-looking specimens roar with open mouths in deep burgundy and gold shades. The bold bloomers are unique and relatively easy to grow, with reblooming qualities. They may bloom up to three times a year for two to three months, with a similar break in between sessions.

Each flower is large—about silver-dollar sized—with variations in markings and color by variety. The hybrid ‘Golden Red Star’ is mostly mahogany red with light yellow tips. ‘Garfield’ features more bright yellow with scarlet striations at the center.

Oncidium ‘Twinkle’

The plant displays clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers in shades of white and yellow, with delicate, slender petals.
Dainty white flowers gracefully dance on wiry stems.
botanical-name botanical name Oncidium ‘Twinkle’
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 10-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-12

Oncidium, or dancing ladies, yield small blooms in groups that resemble dancers in a long skirt, gracefully moving on the stem. ‘Twinkle’ is a dwarf with a miniature form and flowers.

The Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient produces multiple sprays of bloom-lined branches. Creamy white flowers have a golden center and float on wiry stems. They bloom for a month or so and can flower any time of year.

‘Twinkle’ is a hybrid of O. cheirophorum and O. ornithorhynchum. ‘Twinkle Pink Profusion’ bears loads of petite pink dancers.

Clamshell

The plant features unique, inverted flowers with dark purple, shell-shaped lips and long, slender green petals that curve outward from tall, upright stems.
Delicate greenish-white petals complement rich purple and gold.
botanical-name botanical name Prosthechea cochleata
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 12-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-13

Clamshell, or cockleshell (also Encyclia cochleata), is a spicily fragrant, exquisite selection. Its long flowering is due to a spike that continues to grow and develop buds. Leave the stem intact so it produces sequential blossoms.

Clamshell is compact and needs little space to shine. Slender petals resemble delicate tendrils in greenish white. Its clamshell hood (dorsal sepal) is elegant in dark purple maroon and gold with painterly details. 

Leaves in fresh green and thick and strappy. The indigenous species occurs in southern Florida and Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the West Indies.

Brassavola ‘Lady of the Night’

It showcases delicate white flowers with long, narrow petals and a prominent, heart-shaped lip, blooming on slender, arching green stems.
This fragrant beauty blooms multiple times, enchanting the night.
botanical-name botanical name Brassavola nodosa ‘Lady of the Night’
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 12-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

‘Lady of the Night’ is an epiphyte native to lowland tropical forests of Central and South America. It’s sweetly fragrant, especially in the evening, with slender, whitish green petals and sepals and a heart-shaped lip that stands out in prominence.

Each plant produces multiple stems that hold one to six of the striking flowers. They bloom in any season, usually more than once and up to several times a year in optimal conditions. Fall and winter are their primary bloom cycle.

‘Lady of the Night’ is an adaptable grower and a fun one to add for its glowing qualities and light citrus scent.

Psychopsis ‘Mendenhall Hildos’

А dramatic, butterfly-like flower in warm yellows and browns display long, twisting petals.
This striking flower blooms for years, resembling butterflies.
botanical-name botanical name Psychopsis x papilio ‘Hildos’
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 8-14″
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10

Psychopsis orchids and its cultivars are some of the longest bloomers of the group, yielding nearly constant blooms that resemble ornate butterflies on the stem. One spike produces years of potential buds, reflowering from old inflorescences while growing new ones. Reportedly, they may produce for over a decade on a single stem. At the least, several months is not uncommon.

‘Mendenhall Hildos’ has the highest award (the First Class Certificate) from the American Orchid Society. The fantastical flowers measure up to four inches across with a distinctive form and ruffled petals in bright gold and velvety red.

These epiphytes benefit from humidity with plenty of air circulation. They like regular moisture after drying slightly and without overwatering, which quickly leads to root rot, especially in new plants.

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