The Meaning & Symbolism of Orchid

The most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl.

During the Victorian era, orchid symbolism shifted to luxury, and today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty. The 14th wedding anniversary flower, pink orchids convey pure affection, and the popular cattelya orchid represents mature charm.


The Botany of Orchid

All varieties of orchids make up the Orchidaceae family. They have been discovered growing on every continent except Antarctica. The greatest number of orchid species is found in tropical regions. The majority of orchids are epiphytes  meaning they grow on top of or attached to another living plant not parasites as once thought. They obtain their nutrients through the spongy epidermis of their roots.
Many orchids produce a sweet fragrance, which attracts a wide range of pollinators such as birds, bees, flies and even ants.
Since orchids are grown in many different locations around the world, most varieties do not have a limited season of availability. There are nearly 30,000 varieties, but the most common are Dendrobiums, Cymbidium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Vanda. Because of their more limited commercial production, orchids are generally used in event work, such as weddings, parties and upscale occasions. Each type of orchid has its own personality. Dendrobiums are often used as cut flowers in tropical arrangements, while Cymbidium orchids were once thought of as the Mother’s Day corsage orchid, making it a commonly recognized variety. Cattleya orchids were the popular choice of brides during the 40s and 50s, but Phalaenopsis (or Butterfly) orchids are the choice for modern arrangements because of their simplicity and elegance. Some orchids are edible and are used as garnish in culinary presentations.
Vanilla is one of the rare examples of orchids being used for food. Both the seeds and surrounding pulp within the seed pod of the Vanilla orchid are used to make the extremely popular flavoring vanilla extract.