Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple Red White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple Red White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Pink Purple Red White | Green | ||
| Winter | Pink Purple Red White | Green |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1ABotanical details
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Oncidium are a large genus of epiphytic orchids; mature plants form clumps of ovoid to conical pseudobulbs, each with 1-3 mid-green, variably-shaped, leathery leaves arising from the tips. Flower panicles from the bases of the pseudobulbs widely differ in colour and shape
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a fine-grade, bark-based epiphytic orchid compost. Provide bright filtered light, good ventilation and in spring and summer water freely as compost dries out, use orchid fertiliser at every third watering and mist regularly for high humidity. Reduce watering in winter and allow a 4 week period of day time temperature around 10°C to encourage flowering. See Oncidium (warm) cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by division when plants are large enough to be divided into clumps of 2 - 3 pseudobulbs and overflowing the pot
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Houseplants
- Patio and container plants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required, remove spent flower spikes
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.