Colours and shapes
The leaves of the orchid are not particularly striking in most species - it's the flowers of this plant that are the real eye-catchers. Orchids are usually arranged in racemes and can be tiny or up to a metre in size. Whether in the form of a few large flowers, as with the classic butterfly orchid (Phalaenopsis), or as a sea of small flowers, as with the tiger orchid, all are enchanting works of nature's art that you can enjoy for a long time. Other popular varieties include Cymbidium, Dendrobium and Paphiopedilum.
Origins
Orchids probably evolved around 120 million years ago. More than 25,000 species are now known - and this number only continues to increase. In the wild, the orchid grows mainly on trees, in rock crevices and on moss. The orchid occurs in nature almost everywhere in the world - especially in Germany, where there are about 60 different wild species!
Symbolic
In ancient Greece, the orchid was the symbol of fertility and virility. Now in Europe, the orchid is a symbol of beauty, wealth and strength.
