Orchids are one of the most beautifull and unique flowering plants on the planet. With twice as many Orchid species as bird species on earth, you are apt to find a species that you enjoy. They can be found growing in just about every corner of the planet if you know where to look.

You probably see a wide variety of orchids for sale at your local grocery and hardware stores, but really that are all the same species. Ninety nine percent of all orchids that you find for sale are Phal (moth) orchids. These are the easiest to care for because they thrive in temperatures that humans are accustomed to. They are also great because they are very forgiving for beginners, being able to take a few days without water if they need to.

The following list includes 3 unique orchids that you don’t see every day. They are all unique is that the flowers are very different that moth orchids. All three live in different parts of the earth and are pollinated using different techniques, but are all part of the orchid family.

Bee Orchids

Bee orchids are unique in that the flower is designed to look like and smell like a female bee. This is how the orchid pollinates itself in the wild, through tricking male bees into attempting to mate with it. On contact, they get pollen stuck all over them before moving on to the next fake female bee to complete the cycle. This is a pretty ingenious way to get bees to pollinate for you while also creating one of the most unique orchid flowers.

It is hard to grow this orchid type at home because they are very hard to predict. Scientists have observed this orchid coming up one year, staying hibernated for two years, and then coming up again in the third year. Most growers cannot get the perfect temperatures to get this orchid to thrive like it should.

Monkey Face Orchids

Monkey Faced Orchids produce flowers that look like monkey faces. Native to the mountains of Ecuador, they are difficult to grow indoors because they require much cooler temperatures that you would find in your home. They are unique in the shape of the flower, the growing location, and the fact that they can flower at any time during the year.

Dendrobium Orchids

Dendrobium orchids are readily available, but they are not as common as moth orchids. They grow well indoors and favor conditions that keep humans comfortable.   This makes them thrive in your house or work place without having to put forth too much effort.

The name translated to “one who lives on trees” in Greek, because they grow up in the canopies of the jungles in Southeast Asia. This means that they like to be in a location that has plenty of light, but they do not appreciate direct sunlight. Keep them in a bright place, shielded from direct rays, and you should be able to keep your Dendrobium Orchids alive for years to come.