15 Pink Orchid Varieties For Indoor & Outdoor Gardens
Looking for a pink orchid to plant in your indoor or outdoor garden, and can't decide what to choose? There are many different pink varieties to choose from, so picking just one can be a challenge. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss takes a deeper look at some of her favorite orchids that bloom in beautiful shades of pink!
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Although notorious for being a challenge to grow and maintain, orchids are most well known for their exotic and long-lasting blooms. Most species are epiphytic. That means they grow on trees, absorbing their water and nutrients from the air around them. A few species are terrestrial, and a few are lithophytic, meaning they grow on rocks.
Outside of their natural habitat, orchids can be grown in hanging planters filled with tree bark and peat moss, giving them plenty of important air circulation. In the right climate, they require little to no maintenance, and bloom yearly, sometimes more. However, outside of their native climate, they require a delicate balance to maintain the right levels of moisture, air flow, sunlight, and humidity.
Orchids come in, quite literally, every color you can imagine. There are even a few varieties of brown orchids and at least one pure black variety. But, if you’ve decided a pink orchid is the perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor garden, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 15 of the most marvelous varieties of pink orchids, with names and pictures of each!
‘Volcano Island’
Scientific Name: Rlc. Volcano Island ‘Volcano Queen’
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Geographical Location: Hawaii, USA
- Sun Exposure: Bright Indirect Light to Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-11
Volcano Queens are a series of hybrid orchids of the cattleya orchid species that are bred in Hawaii. They enjoy bright, indirect light in order to produce their spectacular blooms. Volcano Island is an orchid of this series that also happens to bloom in pink. The sepals and petals are a medium coral shade with a bit of soft violet pink traversing the length of the two upper petals.
Cattleyas are known for their labellum petal (or lip), and this variety is no exception. Volcano Island has a tricolor lip, the center is striped with deep rose, followed by a golden glow.
The ruffled edges bear the same color seen in the petals, but in a more concentrated fashion. Adding to its visual appeal, as with many cattleya varieties, this one has a fragrant bloom that can be described as sweet with just a hint of spice.
‘Roseglow’
Scientific Name: Oncidiopsis Francine ‘Roseglow’
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Geographical Location: South America
- Sun Exposure: Part Shade
- Plant Zone: 9-12
This newer hybrid variety is part of the oncidium species of orchids. Oncidium orchids are commonly referred to as ‘dancing lady’ orchids, as their flowers resemble full skirts rippling in the breeze. They like a bit more sun than most orchids, and will tolerate several hours of direct morning sun, although they should be shielded from intense afternoon light.
Roseglow is a stunning variety of this species with its long stems, and graceful, bright pink flowers. A lighter colored lip curves outward and a hint of yellow fades into orange where the two colors overlap. These delicate looking blooms can last from 6-8 weeks in the right conditions and fade to a lighter pink as they age.
‘Farmeri Pink’
Scientific Name: Dendrobium farmeri var. pink
- Bloom Time: Early Summer
- Geographical Location: Southeast Asia
- Sun Exposure: Moderate to Bright Filtered Light
- Plant Zone: 9-12
This variety of the dendrobium species is a real stunner. Dendrobium orchids are fairly tolerant of sunlight, and they like more water than most varieties. However, they still need to dry out at least 50% before watering again to avoid rot, and lots of air circulation around the roots,
Farmeri Pink is native to Thailand, and northeast India as well as parts of China. The Farmeri variety are known for their spectacular, but somewhat short-lived blooms. Long stems laden with heavy blossoms appear in early summer and last for about 2-3 weeks.
This orchid’s petals and sepals are bubblegum pink fading to white in the center. The brilliant yellow lip is a rich deep shade and edged with white and pink. Farmeri are a fragrant species and can produce multiple stems of these wonderful blooms in a season.
‘Sanderiana’
Scientific Name: Phalaenopsis ‘Sanderiana’
- Bloom Time: Late Spring and Summer
- Geographical Location: Philippines
- Sun Exposure: Shade
- Plant Zone: 10-12
Phalaenopsis orchids are popular and abundantly available in the United States. Commonly nicknamed ‘moth orchids’ the flowers hang on a long, curved stem and resemble the winged insects. Phalaenopses prefer more shade than most species and can tolerate living indoors quite well. Their blooms are rarely fragrant, but quite elegant and long lasting.
Sanderiana is a rarer species, native to the Philippines. The leaves and stems are a deep olive green, providing a nice contrast for the delicate, paleness of the blooms. The sepals and petals are pale violet, pink fading to white at the center.
The lip of the phalaenopsis is unique and resembles a serpent’s mouth. This variety has a white lip, speckled inside with darker pink and yellow. Two delicate white fanglike structures curl out from the bottom.
‘Pink Profusion’
Scientific Name: Oncidium Twinkle ‘Pink Profusion’
- Bloom Time: Fall
- Geographical Location: Central America
- Sun Exposure: Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 9-12
This delightful orchid gets its name from the abundance of deep pink flowers it produces in the fall. Like most oncidium orchids, this variety can tolerate a few hours of direct sun, but should get some respite in the afternoon. If your oncidium is not producing buds, it probably needs more light.
Pink Profusion is a non-fussy direct hybrid. It is easy to grow, warm and cool tolerant, and fast growing. The sweetly fragranced flowers range from light to dark pink, with a darker red lip. One mature plant can produce hundreds of these small flowers in a season!
‘Pink Lady Slipper’
Scientific Name: Cypriedium Acaule
- Bloom Time: Spring and Summer
- Geographical Location: Northeastern USA
- Sun Exposure: Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 3-7
This orchid is unique for its native habitat. Unlike nearly all other species of orchid, the Lady Slipper orchid is native to the Northeast United States and Canada. It is a terrestrial orchid, growing in the ground rather than high up in trees. Lady Slipper orchids can be found in forests and woodlands, and occasionally in swampy habitats.
While the Pink Lady Slipper bears a resemblance to other flowers in the orchid family, it does have a unique characteristic. The petals and sepals are purple to brown in color, and it has a sweet scent that entices bees for pollination.
But it is the pouch like labellum that sets the Lady Slipper apart from other orchids. This structure is unique to this species and quite eye-catching for pollinators, but can be dangerous as there is only one small opening.
‘Sathian’
Scientific Name: Vanda Siriporn Pink ‘Sathian’
- Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Geographical Location: Asia
- Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-13
If you enjoy collecting rare plants, this one is both high maintenance and hard to find. That’s part of the fun though, isn’t it? Vanda orchids are native to Asia and truly comprise some of the most spectacular specimens I have encountered. Vandas need lots of light, plenty of water and warm temperatures. Outside of zones 10-13 they grow best in greenhouses as they need heat and humidity to thrive.
This variety is a shockingly bright pink. The petals are mottled pink and white as is typical to this species and it grows vertically, needing very little support other than a wire hook to hang it from.
Vanda orchids do not need to be potted, they will grow quite well without a container of any kind if the conditions are right. They are, as I mentioned, high maintenance, but the magnificent blooms which can appear throughout the year, are worth the effort.
‘Street of Gold’
Scientific Name: Cymbidium ‘Street of Gold’
- Bloom Time: Fall
- Geographical Location: Asia
- Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-12
Cymbidium orchids are known for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, which are often fragrant as well as beautiful. They tolerate a good deal of light and will not bloom without it.
Cymbidium orchids need cooler weather to bloom, so they will not produce as well in very warm settings. These are semi-terrestrial orchids, and they require a fair amount of water.
Street of Gold has 5-7 creamy, blush-colored blooms on each stem. Their long grass like leaves are bright, light green and graceful. Sepals and Petals are uniform, with a larger, central labellum. The labellum is speckled with a deep red and a hint of warm yellow glows in the center.
‘Pink Fingers’
Scientific Name: Caladenia Carnea ‘pink fingers’
- Bloom Time: Fall and Winter
- Geographical Location: Australia
- Sun Exposure: Part Shade to Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-11
Don’t get too attached to this Caladenia Carnea, as it is never commercially available, and only grows in parts of Australia and New Zealand. It is, however, worth mentioning, if for no other reason than for its relative rarity. It is a lovely little flower.
This small terrestrial orchid grows from an edible tuberous root. One single leaf accompanies a reddish stem scattered with tiny hairs. The delicate flower has a sweet and musky scent. While the rest of the plant is unlike most known orchids, the flower is a dead giveaway.
Long, thin, delicate pink sepals and petals frame a white lip. Inside of the lip is soft yellow and striped with deep magenta.
‘Far Out Freckles’
Scientific Name: Spathoglottis ‘Far Out Freckles
- Bloom Time: Year Round
- Geographical Location: Australia
- Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 11-12
The Spathoglottis orchid is a terrestrial orchid that you may be hearing about for the first time. Native to the Far North Queensland rainforest, this terrestrial orchid is easier to find than you might expect though.
Spathaglottis like warm temperatures, where they will bloom year-round. They like bright light, and plenty of water, but don’t like for their roots to sit in water, so they do need good drainage.
Far Out Freckles is as adorable as it sounds. Clusters of small flowers with purple tips grow atop long thin stems. The lip is small, and yellow with a deep purple end. The entire flower has the appearance of having been sprayed with a fine purple paint, giving it the appearance of freckles. How cute!
‘Rose Pogonia’
Scientific Name: Pogonia Ophioglossoides
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Geographical Location: North America
- Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 3-10
Pogonia Ophioglossides is another ground dwelling orchid native to North America. This sweet little plant is native to bogs, meadows, and wet prairies. It enjoys an acidic environment and is a great addition to a pond landscape as it prefers soil that is consistently moist.
Rose Pogonia has only one leaf and one flower per stem, the flowers are pale rose colored, fading to white at the edges and fragrant. The nickname Beard Flower comes from the appearance of the flower’s lip. The lip is densely bearded with white and pink bristles. This delicate orchid’s appearance resembles a small iris.
‘Jiaho’s Pink Girl’
Scientific Name: Phalaenopsis ‘Jiaho’s Pink Girl’
- Bloom Time: Fall through Spring
- Geographical Location: USA
- Sun Exposure: Part to Full Shade
- Plant Zone: 10-11
Like most Phalaenopsis, Jiaho’s Pink Girl enjoys ample protection from direct sun. Their broad, glossy leaves burn easily, and once a leaf is damaged, it will not recover. With their low light habit in mind, it’s important to not overwater Phalaenopsis orchids.
They like some peat moss mixed with their potting mix, and only need to be watered once per week. The top inch of the potting medium should be dry before waterings.
Jiaho’s is petite sized for a phalaenopsis, it is considered a teacup species. The leaves are a dark, shiny green and have a vertical growth habit. Despite its small size, this orchid is a big bloomer. It can bloom repeatedly through the cooler months and the blooms last up to 3 months! The small blooms are pale pink with slightly darker veining and a light dusting of freckles on the sepals and lip.
‘Pink Jubkuan’
Scientific Name: Mokara ‘Jubkuan Pink’
- Bloom Time: Year Round
- Geographical Location: Thailand
- Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 11-12
Mokara orchids are bred from and have very similar needs to vanda orchids. They like warm temperatures, high humidity, and good air circulation. Find a spot with bright morning sun but shade in the afternoon. Mokara like more water than most orchids, they need to be watered several times a week in warm weather, and every day if they live outdoors.
Pink Jubkuan is a popular orchid with florists. With its many colorful flowers on each stalk, it makes quite a statement. The flowers resemble vanda orchids as well, but the petals are more delicate and elongated.
They vary from hot pink at the edges and gradually fade to light pink at the center. A fine spray of dark pink speckles mists the entire flower. The lip is small and takes a back seat to the sepals and petals on this plant.
‘Salmon Pink’
Scientific Name: Epidendrum ‘Salmon Pink’
- Bloom Time: Nearly year-round in warmer climates
- Geographical Location: Caribbean
- Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-11
The epidendrum species are terrestrial orchids, so they can be grown in the ground in zones 10 and 11. Outside of their native climate, however, they can be successfully grown in containers.
Epidendrum orchids are quite easy to care for and to propagate. They send out small plants called keikis and these can simply be cut off and grown in their own pot. They do need protection from cold weather.
This variety has the characteristic small waxy leaves and clusters of tiny flowers of the species. The flowers are a bright salmon pink and lightly veined. The petals and sepals are uniform and pointed, and the lip stands straight out from the center. This lip is distinctive with a yellow eye and long hairlike structures.
‘Kiyoka Kitou’
Scientific Name: Lc. ‘Kiyoka Kitou’
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Geographical Location: Minnesota, USA
- Sun Exposure: Bright Indirect Light to Part Sun
- Plant Zone: 10-11
We began our list with a cattleya orchid, so let’s finish with one as well. This variety is a miniature cattleya, perfect for a sunny windowsill. The flowers are only about 1”-2” in diameter, and they have a sweet fragrance.
Kiyoka Kitou packs a lot of personality into its small, usually single blooms. The petals and sepals are uniform, cotton candy pink with darker veining and a dusting of deeper colored freckles at the pointed ends.
The labellum, as is the way with cattleya, is elaborate and beautiful. A deep pink center and deeply curled lip are flanked by pale pink wings.
Final Thoughts
Orchids are a widely varied family of plants, with thousands of hybrid varieties to choose from. They make beautiful houseplants, and if you’re lucky enough to live in a tropical climate, they will thrive year-round, outdoors! If pink is your favorite color, or even if it isn’t, I hope that you enjoyed perusing these spectacular pink specimens. I loved compiling this list of striking blooms for you!
