Ghost Orchid

The ghost orchid is a fascinating and rare epiphyte native to the swampy forests of Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba. Lacking traditional leaves, this remarkable plant relies entirely on its greenish, greyish roots for photosynthesis, clinging directly to the bark of host trees like pond cypress and pop ash. Its common name stems from the ethereal appearance of its striking white blossoms, which seem to magically hover in mid-air when in full bloom during the warm summer months. Because of its strictly specialized ecological requirements, microscopic mycorrhizal associations, and extremely specific habitat demands, cultivating the ghost orchid outside of its native wetland environment is notoriously difficult and nearly impossible for average hobbyists.