Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s "Super" Ghost Orchid

Discovered in July 2007, the Corkscrew "Super" ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) has been in the spotlight each summer since as it continues to produce many flowers year after year.  This orchid has drawn attention from around the world as it is the largest ghost orchid discovered so far, thus the name, "Super" ghost orchid. Our ghost orchid has delighted us every year since its discovery with multiple blooms throughout the summer and even a few in other times of the year (see the timeline of bloom events below).  In 2014, it produced over 40 flowers throughout the year!  

While ghost orchids typically bloom in June and July, during 2015 our "Super" ghost orchid's earliest blooms were spotted on Jan. 25, 2015, setting a new early-blooming record (the earliest in the year it had bloomed previously was late March of 2010).  In 2017, it was blooming again in November and early December, the latest in the year we have seen it bloom so far!  The last flower for 2017 dropped off on Dec. 8.  It has now bloomed every month of the year!  Barring any interference, once a ghost orchid bud opens into a flower, it usually stays in bloom for about 1.5 to 2 weeks, yellowing toward the end of the bloom, and eventually shriveling.