The Rarest Orchids in the World

It is one of the rarest orchids in the world and its common name is due to the arrangement of the flower parts resembling the face of a monkey. The taxonomic name of the species refers to the long filaments that hang from the lower sepals, reminiscent of the fangs of the famous vampire Dracula. You can see both of these aspects in the photo of the rare orchid below. They are orange in color with brown tones and give off an orange scent.

The next of the world's rarest orchids is from a genus known commonly as tulip orchids (Anguloa spp.). They are so called because their foral design is reminiscent of tulip flowers. One of the reasons for their scarcity is that they grow in the high Andean mountains. Their tulip shape is believed to protect them form the cold mountain air. They are highly scented and their leaves can measure up to a meter in length. One of the rarest species is A. cliftonii which only grows in an area of 3 square miles in Colombia. It is critically endangered.

Learn more about plants from this part of the world with our guide to Andean flora and fauna.

This rare orchid is native to Thailand and its surroundings. It is peculiar because it has twisted and very long lower petals which are purple in color. The upper petals are yellow. It is also striking because it self-pollinates by liquefying the pollen at the exact moment, so that it falls inside the stigma and is fertilized.

The flowers of this orchid have a peculiar shape which give them their name. The labellum look like little naked men. They have a head, hands, legs and even the appearance of a sex organ. The flower is purple with white dots. As you can see in the photo, they are arranged in clusters of several flowers around a green stem 50 cm high. It is endemic to the Mediterranean basin.

This rare orchid is native to the cold areas of the northern hemisphere. It emerges as a solitary flower from the soil between humid forests and swampy areas. Colors range from pink to purple , with a white patch on the underside with contrasting darker dots. Also known as the calypso orchid, it gives off a fragrant aroma. It is dwarf and measures 20 cm, meaning it is quite small size compared to other orchids.

Learn about the difference species of other flowering plants with our guide to the different types of carnations.

This orchid is impressive because it has the shape of a bee, with the characteristic yellow and black markings, attached to a pink flower. This rare orchid also has two small round hanging pollinia that need only a slight wind for the pollen to fall inside the flower and self-pollinate. They are originally from Europe. Darwin studied these orchids and was surprised that they were apparently modified to attract pollinators such as bees, but they didn't really need them because they are self-pollinating.

The previous in our list of the rarest orchids in the world has markings that look like a bee, but you can see in the photo this one more closely resembles a fly. This is thanks to the dark violet and almost black coloration of its flower. They have a blue spot in the center. These fly flowers nestle along a 24-inch long green stem.

If you want to grow your own orchids at home, you can click the link below to get the best fertilizer for this purpose:

Orchids normally have completely green leaves, but this genus is characterized by producing leaves with light vein patterns on a green or even brown background. Also known as marbled jewel orchids, these rare orchids have flowers which are also peculiar. They have the shape of open lips and elongated filaments. It is native to Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Hawaii.

If you are looking for more plants to grow at home, you might want to take a look at our guide to white flower plants for the garden.

They are special because they have male and female flowers which very different from each other. This dimorphism is unusual in the orchid family. The male flowers are bi-colored, whereas the females are usually a uniform yellow or green. The photo below shows the orchid with its petals yet to bloom.

To pollinate, the male flower gives off an aroma that attracts bees. When the bee land son the flower, they touch sensitive projections on the flower that eject pollen at a speed of 2 meters per second, almost like a projectile. Due to the pollen released to the bee, it will decide to go to a female flower and result in pollination.

Learn about how certain plants propagate with our guide to spermophyte plants.

This rare orchid spends its life buried underground, the flower opening just peeking out of the substrate. It is pink with an interior of claw-like structures which are darker in color. The flower is small at about 1.5 cm in diameter and emits a sweet aroma.

Since the rare orchid plant lives underground, it depends on its relationship with nearby shrubs. This connection is thanks to fungal spores. It is only found in Australia and is currently listed as Critically Endangered. There are only 9 known mature individuals and 2 isolated populations.

The last on our list of the world's rarest orchids is the granite spider orchid, also endemic to Australia. It only has one leaf and extremely thin sepals, which is why it is called a spider. The flower is cream in color with red details and is held on a stem 20 cm high. It is in danger of extinction with only 63 mature individuals in the wild. In fact, its conservation status is officially known as ‘rare’.

Since these rare orchids are not widely available, you may want to look for some other plants to grow at home. Find out some of the most beautiful with out guide to caring for a Chinese bell flower and how to plant geraniums.

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