Asian Cymbidiums

Asian Cymbidiums

wild species of Cymbidium goeringii

Family: Orchidaceae Japanese name: TOOYOO RAN
Plant type: evergreen plant.
Flower: usually greenish yellow with fragrance

China has been growing Asian cymbidiums for more than 1000
years. Asian cymbidiums have been regarded as one of the "four
noble plants"(orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo, plum) for the
Chinese. Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium sinense, Cymbidium
ensifolium and Cymbidium kanran have quite a strong fragrance,
like musk. The flowers (usually yellowish green) are not so showy,
but the total forms of these orchids are well balanced as pot
plants. It needs a certain technique to raise these cymbidiums,
and people had to grow them in pots with well-drained soil.
Therefore, they were the most precious of the four special plants
and only wealthy and noble people could enjoy growing them.
These cymbidiums were brought from China, along with
propagation methods used from olden times. In Japan, there was
a record of growing them in the Muromachi period (1333-1568).
It seems that the Japanese raised them at least in those times.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), these cymbidiums became popular
as pot plants. However, they were still precious and were raised
as wealthy peoples' hobby. Cymbidium georingii and Cymbidium
kanran are indigenous to Japan too. Enthusiasts of the Edo period
collected them in the habitat and those cultivars have been
raised until now.

Cymbidium goeringii: Japanese name is SHUNRAN (= spring
orchid). It blooms in March-April. The height is 10-25cm.
Japanese cultivars have slight (poor) fragrances compared with
Chinese cultivars. The Japanese make herbal tea from its flowers.
The herbal tea is served at ceremonies, like weddings.
Cymbidium sinense: Japanese name is HOSAIRAN (orchid that
tells the New Year). This flower blooms in the New Year period of
the old calendar (= early February). The height is 25-60cm. This
species is not so popular in Japan. In China, it is appreciated as a
New Year's plant. In Japan, only few are indeginous to Southern
islands like, AMAMI islands and OKINAWA islands.
Cymbidium ensifolium: This species consists of some strains like
SURUGARAN (= orchid bred in SURUGA) strain, GYOKKARAN (=
jade flower orchid) strain, and others. The height is 25-50cm. It
blooms in summer-autumn.
Cymbidium kanran: Japanese name is KANRAN (= cold orchid), it
blooms in December-January and has a good fragrance. The
height is 25-60cm. This species has been appreciated by the
Japanese enthusiasts for long periods as well as Cymbidium
goeringii.
Cymbidium floribundum: Japanese name is KINRYOUHEN (=
golden margin). Its flowers (blooming period: May-June) have a
strange fragrance that invites honeybees, so beekeepers use
them for collecting honeybees. Its cultivars are appreciated
for its variegation. In Japan, only few are indeginous to the
Southern part.
Cymbidium dayanum: Japanese name is HETSUKARAN (= Orchid
of Hetsuka) since its habitat is Hetsuka in Kagoshima Prefecture.
There are variegated cultivars brought from China and they are
called KANPOURAN (= winter phoenix orchid). It shows pendulous
flowers in October-November.

Growing Tips: refer to Japanese Orchids page.

Asian Cymbidiums Website

	The website "SHIKI NO TOUYOURAN"(=oriental orchids in seasons) is created by Mr.Geiseki. He shows the photos of whole types of asian cymbidiums with cultural information. (Japanese version only)
	The website "CalypsoLip" is created by Mr.Nakayama. He visited the habitats of wild orchids all over Japan and took photos. You can understand how they grow in the nature by looking at his excellent photos of Japanese wild orchids.

Cymbidium goeringii cultivar
with dark green flowers,
called KUROBOTAN

Cymbidium goeringii cultivar
with reddish orange flower,
called FUJINOYUUBAE

Cymbidium goeringii cultivar,
called NANKI

variegated cultivar of
Cymbidium goeringii,
called FUJIKAN

Cymbidium kanran cultivar,
called SHIROTAE

enlarged flower image
of SHIROTAE

Cymbidium kanran cultivar,
called BURYO

Cymbidium kanran cultivar,
called NIKKO

variegated cultivar of
Cymbidium sinense

enlarged flower image of the left
cultivar; this flower is not showy,
but there are other varieties
for appreciating flowers
in Cymbdium sinense cultivars.

Cymbidium sinense
cultivar
with green flowers

enlarged flower image
of the left cultivar

WAKAMATSU,
variegated cultivar of
Cymbidium floribundum

MEIGYOKU, variegated cultivar
of GYOKKARAN strain
(Cymbidium ensifolium)

enlarged flower image
of Cymbidium dayanum

The background of this page is one of traditional patterns

for KIMONO (Japanese costume)