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Jewel Orchid Wikimedia Commons
Orchidaceae

Jewel Orchid

Ludisia discolor

Hidden splendor and unconventional beauty.

Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Ludisia
Native to
Southeast Asia, southern China
Bloom season
Winter, Early Spring
Type
terrestrial orchid
Height
15–30 cm
Sunlight
low to medium indirect light
Soil
moist, humus-rich, well-drained
Water
medium; keep evenly moist
Hardiness
11–12 (houseplant elsewhere)
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Unlike most orchids grown for flowers, jewel orchids are prized primarily for their velvety, dark leaves with glittering metallic veins.
  • The leaves appear to shimmer with gold or silver pinstripes that look like they were hand-painted.
  • It is one of the easiest orchids to grow as a houseplant, tolerating low light and normal room humidity.
  • Jewel orchids grow terrestrially on the forest floor, not as epiphytes on trees like most tropical orchids.
  • The small white flowers rise on tall spikes and have a subtle, sweet fragrance that perfumes a room.

Color meanings

White

understated elegance

Uses

  • houseplant
  • terrarium plant
  • orchid collections
  • low-light indoor garden