Fragrant Orchids

Alas, the technology does not exist to let me share with you the wonderful fragrances of my orchids. So, on this page, I have picked out the ones that have notable fragrance, so that, perhaps, when you see these plants at a show or society meeting, you will stop to smell the flowers and find out for yourself how sweet these can be.

Of course, the flowers do not have their form, color, and fragrance to please us, but rather to attract pollinators, so that they may perpetuate their kind. Since orchids usually have very specific pollinators, they focus their energy at the times that those insects are active. Therefore, most are fragrant either by day or by night, but usually not both, at least at the same intensity. Not suprisingly, many of the white and green ones are pollinated by night-flying insects, and so dispense their perfume after dusk. Among these are Rhyncholaelia digbyana, Brassavola nodosa, Brassavola cucullata, and Angraecum. Most of the Cattleyas are fragrant only by day.

You can click on the thumbnail photo to enlarge it. Just use the "back" arrow on your browser to return to this page. For those orchids that have entries on other pages, you can also click the link to find out more about them. Where I can describe the scent, I have done so. If you wish to suggest other adjectives that describe the scent of these orchds, feel free to e-mail me at roberta@orchidcentral.net with your suggestions.


Rhyncholaelia digbyana Citrus-like scent	Brassavola nodosa	Brassavola cucullata Sweet fragrance similar to B. nodosa	Angcm. Longiscott 'Hihimanu' Not as strong as some Angreacums, but sweet by night.

. Zygo. B. G. White 'Stonehurst' Most Zygos are intensely fragrant.	Den. Gold Star 'Orange Royale' Most nobile-type dendrobiums have a mild fragrance.	Maxillaria tenuifolia Coconut	Den. delicatum 'Brechts' Wintergreen

Eps. Veitchii Soft scent of roses	Den. Nestor	Den. kingianum 'Humungus' x 'Burgundy King'	C. June Bride Many Cattleyas have a heady perfume.

Onc.Sharry Baby Chocolate	Cym. Golden Elf 'Sundust' Baby powder? Powerful, hard to describe.	Odbrs. Kenneth Bivens Cedar	Ada glumacea Fruity (Slightly overripe? Very sweet)

C. loddigesii x Slc. Jeweler's Art	Enc. radiata Wintergreen	Cym. tracyanum Peaches	Onc. ornithorynchum Very sweet

V. tricolor	Brassavola perrinii	Lc. Rio Verde Subtle	Cyc. Robert Dickow

C. M. Hausermann 'York'	Mtssa. Sandy's Cove	Osmoglossum pulchellum	Cym. unnamed 'Miki'

Rhyncholaelia glauca Heady perfume at night	Epi. parkinsonianumm Fragrance of Cloves at night	Blc. Fuchs Orange Nugget x [(Blc. Ann Kimi x C. Chocolate Drop) x Blc. Orange Nugget] Ripe Apricots	Phal. Sweet Memory 'Bubbles'

L. purpurata Licorice	Ascofinetia Peaches	Pescatorea wallisii	Lc. Puppy Love Powerful!

L. Anceps Cedar	Zygo. Artur Elle 'Ben Wrighton'	Cym. Dark Spirit	Onc. cheirophorum

Maxillaria parkerii Powerful sweet fragrance	C. Chocolate Drop 'Kodama'	Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom 'Orange'	Neofinetia falcata

Cym. eburneum	Slc. Jewel Box 'Scheherazade' Roses	Onc. John Louie Shirah	Brassia verrucosa

Den. Golden Aya	Den. anosmum	C. loddigesii 'Harrisoniana' x Blc. Holiday Inn	Cym. sinense x lancifolium

Wdwa. Adelaide Light	Vuyl. Mem Mary Kavabaugh 'Augie' Anise	Onc. Makalii 'Gotoh'	Milt (roezlii v. alba x bismarkii 'D'

Cym. Peter Pan	Dockrillia pugnioniformis	Bifrenaria harrisonia