Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia): Terrestrial Orchid with Grass-Like Leaves

Bamboo Orchid: The Reed-Stemmed Orchid That Blooms Year-Round

Bamboo orchid (Arundina graminifolia) is a terrestrial orchid with tall, bamboo-like stems and grass-like leaves. It produces a succession of cattleya-like, pink-purple flowers with a darker lip at the top of the stems, often blooming continuously in warm climates.

Botanical Profile

Native to tropical Asia. Grows 3–6 feet tall with slender, jointed stems. The leaves are linear, alternate. Flowers are 2–3 inches across, fragrant. It's one of the easiest orchids to grow outdoors in frost-free areas.

Cultivation and Uses

• Tropical garden: Mass planting for continuous bloom.
• Container: Large pot with orchid mix.
• Cut flowers: Long-lasting on the plant; shorter cut.
• Naturalizes: Self-seeds in favorable conditions.

Full sun to part shade, moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Regular water and fertilizer. Protect from frost. Perennial in USDA zones 9–11; greenhouse elsewhere.