The Cooktown Orchid - in bloom and beautiful

The orchid seems to have a particular hold on people and none more so than the Cooktown Orchid which is a rare and beautiful sight.  


Chosen as Queensland’s floral emblem in 1959 by popular vote, the Cooktown Orchid (Dendrobium phalaenopsis) was seen to be unique, decorative, distinctive and easily cultivated.

 Found in northern Queensland, from Johnston River to Iron Range, these days it is rarely seen other than by orchid growers and enthusiasts.  The Cooktown Orchid blooms only in the months of April and May each year- a delicate and elegant flower about 3 to 6 cm wide and are normally deep to pale lilac/pink in colour. These plants can grow up to 80 cm in height and can have from 3 to 20 flowering canes.

Although it is found in tropical districts with very high summer rainfall, it is not a rainforest species but grows in exposed situations, usually attached to tree trunks such as paperbark melaleucas in savannah woodland or in vine thickets. Habitat alteration and indiscriminate harvesting by some commercial plant collectors have made this species rare or extinct in some places within its range, especially in the southern part.

Here in Cooktown these days it is hard to find although many people have them hidden in their gardens or high in the gum trees. The Botanic Gardens had placed some in a viewing area which were stolen and have now had to build a caged orchid house so that people can at least see them but not take. Sad that its come to this.