Dendrobium cretaceum (Syn. polyanthum)

Found in the mountains of Southeast Asia these cool to warm growing plants are only 6-12 inches tall when mature. In spring on from the nodes opposite the leaves buds will form to produce a single inch to two inch flower that is an ivory white color with a beautiful lip that has bifurcated (branching) red/ purple stripes that radiate outwards. The flowers have an amazing fragrance unlike many orchid scents. The scent is like the taste of a fine champagne or a select chardonnay. The flowers last from 3-6 weeks depending on your conditions. This is a deciduous species and the leaves on the newest growths all fall off before or during the flowering period. New growths then form and grow into stout canes only to repeat the process in the winter months. When the canes are leafless and not in flower or developing new growths keep somewhat drier at the roots.