Dendrobium x speciokingianum (Dendrobium x delicatum

Dendrobium speciokingianum is a natural hybrid between the two Australian species,Dendrobium speciosum var. hillii and Dendrobium kingianum and is found right across their common range down the East side of Austrailia.

We have known this natural hybrid as Dendrobium x delicatum for the past 50 years but have recently renamed plants inline with current boanical research.

If you are interested in plant names this is an interesting one described here by the RHS registrar:

The earliest available name for the hybrid Dendrobium kingianum x D. speciosum is Dendrobium x speciokingianum T.Lawr., Garden (London 1871–1927) 49: 201 (1896), published as specio-kingianum. Unfortunately, this name appears to have been overlooked by Clements in Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae, Australian Orchid Research 1: 1-160 (1989), and subsequent floristic literature. The hybrid involving Dendrobium speciosum var. hillii (Den. tarberi) is called Dendrobium x delicatum only if the parent in the Den. speciosum complex is accepted at species rank as Dendrobium tarberi. If it is regarded as Den. speciosum var. hillii, as currently in the Kew World Checklist and the RHS Register, then the correct name becomes Dendrobium x speciokingianum nothovar. delicatum. Consequently, a new combination is required: Dendrobium x speciokingianum nothovar. delicatum (F.M.Bailey) R.Govaerts & J.M.H. Shaw comb. nov. Basionym: Dendrobium speciosum var. delicatum F.M.Bailey, Proc. Roy. S

Ignoring the name complications, this orchid is most remarkable for its wonderful fragrance that completely fill our Himalayas Greenhouse on this sunny spring morning.

Plants make majestic specimens over time with pseudobulbs 60cm tall toped with three to five dark green leaves. Flower spikes emerge from between the leaves starting from the top in the first year and progressively lower over the nex few years. Plants can get really big and in the past (at Writhlington) we have grown plants more than 6ft across (see photos 3 and 4)

We grow plants in our Himalayan section (min 7C) so this is a cool growing species although plants that have found their way into the house also flourish. We keep plant well watered in the summer when in growth but a bit dryer in the winter and spring especially when in flower. We have friends who put their plants outside in the summer where they do well as long as watered sufficiently.