(Cymbidium Orchid, Ivory Cymbidium)

Ivory cymbidium's flowers are white, as the name suggests, but also faintly blushed with pale pink. Its signature feature is a delicious fragrance akin to that of lilacs. Native from northern India to Vietnam, this tropical epiphyte (tree dweller) or lithophyte (rock dweller) can be found growing in cool highland cloud forests and cliff sides.

Long, light green, sword-shaped leaves arise from the oval pseudobulbs of this large, clump-forming evergreen orchid. Actively growing in the warm rains...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Sword-leaf Cymbidium)

The compact and highly fragrant sword-leaf cymbidium was among the first grown and prized by Chinese gardeners and appeared in the record as early as 500 B.C. In its native Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka it can be found growing in humus rich soils along streamsides and waterfalls. Occasionally it grows on moist rocks alongside mosses and ferns.

This clump-forming orchid forms a cluster of small pseudobulbs from which rise three or four thin, sword-like leaves of light green. Actively...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Finlayson's Cymbidium)

On the island of Borneo, islanders grow the spring-blooming Finlayson's cymbidium orchid near their homes to ward off evil spirits. But the non-superstitious simply enjoy this plant's long, branched flower stalks lined with scores of warm, golden brown blossoms. This tropical epiphytic or a lithophytic orchid is native to the rainforests across peninsular Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to Indonesia and the Philippines.

This large evergreen orchid grows from a clump of short, cone-shaped pseudobulbs...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Goering's Cymbidium, Korean Spring Orchid)

Easily mistaken for a grass when flowers are absent, Goering's cymbidium is a prized orchid in gardens across the warm temperate areas of China, Japan and southern Korea. Faintly fragrant golden green to chartreuse flowers appear in winter and spring. These are only subtly showy and often camouflaged by the foliage, though some come in more exciting colors, such as white, pink, golden orange and bright yellow-green. In the wild, this species is naturally distributed from Bhutan eastward to the Korean...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Splendid Cymbidium)

Splendid cymbidium earns its name from its abundant display of waxy, pale pink blossoms with spotted lips. Native to the high elevation cloud forests of Thailand, Vietnam and southernmost China, it grows in sandy soils nestled in the shade of shrub cover. Flowering occurs over a long season from late fall to spring.

The light green, sword-shaped leaves of this evergreen, clump-forming cymbidium arise from flattened, oval pseudobulbs . Active growth occurs in spring and summer. When fall temperatures...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Low's Cymbidium)

Native to high elevation montane cloud forests, Low's cymbidium grows as an epiphyte (upon other plants) across Myanmar, Thailand, southwestern China and Vietnam. Flowering occurs from late winter into spring and variation exists among plants, particularly with respect to the color of the subdued flowers and lack or presence of floral fragrance.

This large, clump-forming, evergreen orchid has compressed pseudobulbs from which arise upright, lance-shaped leaves of light green. Active growth occurs...

(Cymbidium Orchid, Tracy's Cymbidium)

The most strongly scented of all cymbidium, Tracy's has large, long-stemmed, corsage quality orchids of dark red and yellow-green. Native to the cool highland forests and cliffs of southern China, northern Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand, this tender evergreen epiphyte (tree dweller) or lithophyte (rock dweller) is frequently seen growing on flared tree trunks, branch forks or moist rocks along open woodland slopes.

Tracy's cymbidium is a large, clump-forming orchid with oval pseudobulbs from...

(Lemon Grass, Lemongrass)

Fast-growing and clump-forming, lemongrass has leaf blades rich in fragrant oils that smell lemony when crushed. The bases are used to flavor any number of dishes in Indian and Southeast Asian Cuisine. A Southeast Asian native, this tender perennial grass is evergreen where hardy and fast-growing.

The wide, blue-green blades of lemongrass may be coarse or sharp to the touch, so handle with gloves when harvesting the tender, fragrant bases. The blades rise from bulbous rhizomes that spread...

(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, this short-lived tender perennial from East Asia is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on calf- to knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small, bristly, bur-like fruits follow the flowers. Self-sowing often occurs, sometimes...

(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, 'Blue Shower' is a tall, floriferous, seed-grown selection of Chinese forget-me-not, a short-lived tender perennial from East Asia. It is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small,...