Cymbidium orchid
The cymbidium is the winter orchid — a single stem carries 8–15 florets that last a full month once cut. Green cymbidiums with a burgundy lip are the editorial designer's favourite. Each floret can be broken off and wired for corsage or cake decoration, extending the value of a single stem across a whole event.
| Family | Orchidaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Asia, Australia; commercially grown Netherlands, Italy, California |
| Peak season | November, December, January, February, March, April |
| Availability | October to May |
| Stem length | 60–120 cm |
| Vase life | 21–42 days |
| Colors | white, cream, yellow, green, pink, burgundy, brown |
| Price tier | premium |
Cut sparingly — one stem carries 8–15 florets. Cut on a diagonal, deep water is fine.
- •Highest vase life of any cut flower — 4+ weeks common
- •Individual florets used widely for corsage and cake work
- •Cool, never cold — 8–12°C is ideal storage
- •Green cymbidiums are the premium 'nature' colour for editorial
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Common name
- Boat Orchids
- Also known as
- boat orchid, Arethusantha, Cymbidiopsis, Cyperochis, Cyperocymbidium, Cyperorchis, Iridorchis, Jensoa, Liuguishania, Pachyrhizanthe, Wutongshania
- Distribution
- Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY)
Frequently asked questions
When is Cymbidium orchid in season?
Cymbidium orchid peaks in November, December, January, February, March, April, and florists can usually source it October to May. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Cymbidium orchid last in a vase?
Expect 21–42 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What does Cymbidium orchid symbolise?
Cymbidium orchid is associated with nobility, friendship, beauty.
How do you care for cut Cymbidium orchid?
Highest vase life of any cut flower — 4+ weeks common
Related flowers
Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link back, for non-commercial and editorial use (blogs, journalism, classrooms, research).
Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Cymbidium orchid”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/orchid-cymbidium/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/orchid-cymbidium/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Cymbidium orchid</a>