I am quite facinated by the Neofinetia falcata species, with all its forms and variations. ‘Shutenno’ has got to be among the most beautiful of them all. The elegant Neofinetia dragon shape is successfully complimented by a beautiful purple spur and an absolutley amazing scent of jasmine and sweet vanilla! So this would be part three of the fragrance series this summer (part one, two), saving the best for last. It really is the best smelling flower, not just orchid, that I have ever had the pleasure of sticking my nose into!
Neofinetia falcata, or Fu-ran, the Japanese Wind Orchid, hails from Northeast Asia where it grows primarily epiphytically. I grow all of my Neos mounted on bark in the intermediate/warm vivarium. High RH and fairly bright year round, but even closer to the lights in the winter. I keep the viv. warm in the spring/summer and intermediate in the winter, but they can tolerate much cooler temperatures in the winter. They also require good water (I use exclusively RO water) and a lot of it in the spring and summer when in active growth, then a drier, cooler and brighter winter rest.
I have kept it outside all summer, and the scent completely envelops the entire patio at night. It even fills the whole house on warm summer nights when we sleep with the door open. Quite a feat for a plant not measuring much more than about 12 cm across, and flowers no more than 2 cm across. An interesting side note however is that the roots measure over 60 cm long! I think this one, along with all the other vandanaceous friends, really loved summer break outside this year. There are new roots coming everywhere and a lot of flowers spikes on the way, this one is already producing a second spike to follow this one. Very nice!
Neofinetia falcata (Thunb.) Hu, Rhodora 27: 107 (1925).
Gorgeous, I’m still waiting for mine to bloom and it’s a young plant so might not this year.
Thank you! It is worth waiting for. 🙂