Orchid Varieties: The Different Genera and How to Choose the Right One for You

The easiest orchid varieties to grow at home are Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya and, in a cool room, Cymbidium. They all belong to the Orchidaceae family, which includes nearly 30,000 known species, according to the MNHN (National Museum of Natural History).

This guide introduces the main types of indoor orchids, outlining each one’s light requirements, temperatures according to the American Orchid Society, flowering habits and difficulty level. It will help you choose the right one for you, then point you to our care guides and our collection of orchids (Orchidaceae).

🌟 What is an orchid? The Orchidaceae family at a glance

An orchid is a flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, one of the largest in the plant kingdom, with nearly 30,000 known species and new discoveries every year, according to the MNHN. The POWO (Plants of the World Online), the botanical database of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, lists 691 accepted genera.

Its flower is distinguished by its labellum, a highly modified floral part, and its column (or gynostemium), which combines the male and female organs, according to the botany department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The same source explains that orchids can be terrestrial, epiphytic (growing on other plants) or saprophytic.

The museum notes that 95% of orchids are tropical and subtropical, and that selective breeding has produced tens of thousands of horticultural varieties. So when we talk about orchid varieties in stores, we are mainly referring to cultivated genera and hybrids, not wild species.

📊 The main types of indoor orchids: a comparison

The main types of indoor orchids differ chiefly in their light requirements and the temperatures they need at night. This table compares ten common genera. Temperatures are taken from the American Orchid Society’s culture sheets and converted to °C; flowering information comes from the Missouri Botanical Garden and Clemson University. Difficulty ratings reflect our expert opinion on growing them in an apartment.

📋 Quick facts

Common guidelines for indoor orchids, according to the MNHN, POWO, AOS, RHS and ASPCA.

🪏 How to choose an orchid in 6 steps

To choose an orchid, start with the room it will live in, not the flower: check the light from the window and the nighttime temperature, then choose a genus that will thrive there, and finally pick a color. Next, check the plant’s condition, whether in store or when your delivery arrives. A healthy orchid will bounce back quickly, while a tired plant can demand months of patience.

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🧭 Which orchid should you choose for your home?

The right type of orchid depends first on the room it will live in: light, nighttime warmth and air humidity. Here are our recommendations, based on AOS and Missouri Botanical Garden culture sheets.

For everyday advice on where to place an orchid in your home, our orchid care guide covers placement and lighting.

📐 Which orchids are easiest to grow?

The easiest orchids to grow are Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya and, in a cool room, Cymbidium. The University of Wisconsin Extension ranks Cattleya, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis among the best indoor orchids. The MNHN lists Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium as easy-to-grow orchids whose flowers stay in bloom for a long time.

Phalaenopsis is the easiest choice for an apartment: according to Clemson, it does well in low light, at 1,500 to 1,700 foot-candles (about 16,000 to 18,000 lux), with nights of at least 18 °C (16 °C minimum according to the AOS)—the typical temperature of a heated home. Its flowers stay fresh for several months.

Our Phalaenopsis guide covers how to grow it and encourage it to flower again. By contrast, the University of Wisconsin considers Dendrobium and Oncidium more difficult to grow indoors. Start with a Phalaenopsis, then expand your collection once you have watering figured out.

📐 Rare orchids: what “rare” really means

In botanical terms, a rare orchid is a species threatened in the wild; in a garden center, the word usually refers to an uncommon variety, which is an entirely different thing.

All orchid species are listed under CITES, and they make up the vast majority of listed species, according to a document from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Orchid Specialist Group presented to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The entire Paphiopedilum genus is even listed in Appendix I, the strictest category. However, Phalaenopsis hybrids propagated in cultivation and labeled for retail sale, like ours, are exempt from CITES formalities.

The same document cites the case of Paphiopedilum canhii, which lost 99.5% of its population to commercial harvesting shortly after its discovery. It also reports 347 orchid species collected from the wild and sold in Thailand. The MNHN (French National Museum of Natural History) notes that CITES regulates the collection, possession, sale, import, and export of specimens.

So, if you're looking for an unusual orchid, choose plants that have been cultivated, with a clear genus or hybrid name, and never a plant collected from the wild.

📐 Hardy garden orchids

A few orchids can be grown outdoors in the garden: the easiest is Bletilla striata, which the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) rates H4, hardy from -10 to -5°C. It forms clumps 10 to 50 cm tall and bears fragrant pink flowers in spring and early summer, in partial shade and moist but well-drained soil.

According to the RHS page on outdoor orchids, Dactylorhiza hybrids produce pink or purple flower spikes, thrive in moist soil, and cannot tolerate drought; Cypripediums, or lady's slippers, and most hardy orchids prefer freely draining soil.

These hardy orchids die back in winter and flower again from late spring to midsummer. The RHS notes that they are sensitive to waterlogged soil in winter and drought in summer.

🗓️ Orchid blooming calendar

An orchid won't flower continuously all year round, but by combining several genera, you can enjoy blooms almost year-round. Phalaenopsis blooms mainly in winter, and its flowers last for months, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Dendrobium blooms in fall and winter, according to Clemson; Zygopetalum from late fall to early spring; and most Cattleya in winter and early spring. To keep your plants in good shape during the cold season, see our guide to houseplants in winter.

📅 Seasonal care calendar

🐛 Mistakes to avoid when choosing an orchid

The most common mistakes come from choosing a genus that doesn't suit the room, rather than from a lack of care. Here's how to avoid them.

🌿 Our orchids and further reading

Our orchid range currently focuses on Phalaenopsis, the easiest genus, available in many colors and shapes. Each guide below covers a specific task or genus.

🔑 How to recognize the main orchid genera at a glance

You can recognize the main orchid genera by their flowers and growth habit, without being a botanist. Phalaenopsis has broad leaves at the base and flat, butterfly-shaped flowers arranged along an arching flower spike.

Cambria and Oncidium have pseudobulbs—swollen structures at the base of the leaves that store water—and many small flowers, often less than 2.5 cm across, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Dendrobium grows on upright canes, Paphiopedilum is distinguished by its slipper-shaped flower, and Vanda by its long aerial roots.

Cymbidium forms long, strap-shaped leaves and tall spikes of waxy flowers. Good to know: Cambria is not a natural genus; the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) database describes it as a name for intergeneric hybrids involving, among others, Oncidium, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Cochlioda, and Brassia.

✅ Our tips for choosing the right orchid

To choose the right orchid, remember one simple rule: choose the genus first, based on your light levels and nighttime temperatures, then choose the color. Start with a Phalaenopsis, add a Paphiopedilum for a less bright room or a Cymbidium for a cool conservatory, and leave Vanda and Miltoniopsis for very bright or humid interiors.

If you're giving one as a gift, our guide to choosing a plant to give and our page on the meaning of orchids and their colors will help. You can also explore all our flowering houseplants and our orchid collection.