Orchids have a rich and long history. Researchers have actually dated them back to the Jurassic era, making them one of the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica, leading scientists to believe that they were around before the continents split. Keep reading to learn more about their origin, meaning, and some interesting facts!

Origin

Orchids have more than 25,000 different species that grow naturally, making them the largest group of blooming flowers on the planet. That number has grown to over 100,000 with the help of modern scientific cultivation. Orchids bloom naturally in every color of the rainbow, except for black!

The first recorded mention of orchids was by Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, around 300 B.C., while Dioscorides, a Greek medical botanist, first identified them as ‘orchids’ in the first century. It’s even recorded that Confuscious kept them in his room and wrote a poem about their beautiful fragrance.

Orchids were thought to have healing properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, orchids were used to help coughs and lung illnesses, while the Aztecs would drink a mixture of vanilla orchid flowers and chocolate to give them strength.

Facts

  • Orchid flowers are perfectly symmetrical. Each flower can be divided in half with two equal parts.
  • The vanilla bean comes from a species of orchids, called Vanilla Orchids, which are the only commercially grown and harvested orchid plant.
  • Mature orchids grow upside down.
  • They can live up to 100 years.
  • Orchids take about 5 to 7 years to bloom once germinated.

Meanings

Orchids are beautiful and have symbolized many things over history. For example, ancient Greece associated them with virility and male fertility. Each color has a different meaning, making orchids great for many occasions. White orchids symbolize purity, innocence, elegance, luxury, and reverence, while pink orchids represent grace, femininity, and joy. Yellow orchids represent friendship and the start of something new, while purple orchids symbolize admiration, respect, and royalty. Orange orchids symbolize boldness, pride, and positivity. Graceful and elegant, orchids make for a gorgeous addition to any bouquet. Be sure to ask your local florist to use orchids the next time you send flowers!

This article was first featured here - https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/flower-spotlight-orchid-2/