The Eight Famous Varieties of Jianlan Orchids cymbidium Ensifolium

If you own 3 of them, you're a beginner; if you have all, you're a master!

  1. Xia Huang Mei (Summer Emperor Plum) 夏皇梅
    Topping the list of Jianlan’s eight famous varieties is Xia Huang Mei, an elegant orchid with yellowish-green flowers (leaning toward yellow). Its leaves have small pointed tips, and its bracts are long and broad. The petals are shorter than the sepals, with a rounded lip that slightly curls inward.

  2. Jun He (Monarch Lotus) 君荷
    Known as the "No. 1 Lotus in Asia," Jun He rivals Xia Huang Mei in fame. Its deep-colored, thick leaves have rounded tips, and its lotus-shaped flowers display a vibrant mix of tender green and red streaks. The lip is brightly colored, and the round buds have colorful sheaths. It won a gold medal at the 1999 World Horticultural Expo.

  3. Gai Mei (Yi Pin Mei, First-Class Plum) 一品梅
    A classic plum-blossom-shaped Jianlan, Yi Pin Mei was originally found on Emei Mountain in Sichuan. Its flowers are yellow-green with a "Ruyi tongue" (a specific lip shape) and perfectly formed petals. The leaves are medium-width and soft, drooping slightly.

  4. Guang Deng Lü Mei (Green Plum) 绿光登
    Also called Shu Mei, this orchid has pure green flower stems with no variegation. Its blossoms usually face upward, and the bracts are layered in translucent green. The petals resemble jade, with thick, waxy textures, and the outer three petals wrap tightly without gaps.

  5. Hong Yi Pin (Red First-Class) 红一品
    Also known as "Golden Plum," this Sichuan Emei variety is famous for its dignified, bright-colored blooms. No matter where it’s grown, it consistently produces standard plum-shaped flowers with a perfect central structure.

  6. Huang Guang Deng Mei (Yellow Plum) 黄光登
    Discovered by orchid enthusiast Li Guang Deng (hence the name), this variety has rounded petals in a lotus-root yellow hue. Its "Ruyi tongue" and "Guanyin forehead" petals hold their shape exceptionally well, even as the flower fades.

  7. Wu Yue Qi Lin (Five Peaks Unicorn) 五岳麒麟
    The only "strange flower" (odd-form bloom) among the eight, Wu Yue Qi Lin has long, upright leaves with distinct "yin-yang" tips. Its slender yet sturdy stem supports flowers with upper petals and a nose-like center, while the lower part features multiple lips (tongues). Its pseudobulb is round like a glass bead.

  8. E Mei Xian (Emei Variegated) 峨眉玄
    A rare and exquisite striped-leaf orchid, E Mei Xian has red sheaths at the base and silver-backed leaves. Its new shoots are bright red, and the flowers display striking green and white stripes, creating a stunning contrast between foliage and blooms—a true treasure among orchids!

In the orchid-growing community, owning just three of these varieties makes you a beginner. True orchid masters proudly cultivate all eight legendary Jianlan varieties!

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