Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerCymbidium hybrids
Orchids: when they're in season in Australia
In season now (November 2026): No
Orchids are outside the listed Australian season in November. The national season is May to September. Local growing conditions and supply can change the timing. Check the state guide below and ask your florist about locally grown stems before ordering, especially near the beginning or end of the season.
- Right now
- Out of season in November
- Season
- May to September
- Vase life
- 14 to 28 days
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Written by Dan d'Auvergne
Season by state
Flowers and pets: check before bringing a bunch home
Season months drafted from koch.com.au, katehillflowers.com.au, flowersforeveryone.com.au, livingflowersmelbourne.com.au. Availability varies by grower and region. See sources
The Australian-grown cut orchid is the cymbidium, which flowers from late autumn through winter and into spring, roughly May to September. Cut spikes last for weeks, which makes them a favourite for winter weddings and long-lived arrangements. Tropical orchids such as dendrobium and phalaenopsis are in florists all year, largely imported from South-East Asia. Melbourne florists treat cymbidiums as a winter speciality, and potted orchids are a separate, year-round trade.
Where to buy orchids
Cymbidiums are sold by the spike or the single bloom and are dear per stem, but last so long they are good value.
How to choose good orchids
Turn the spike around and check every flower, including the lip in the centre. On cymbidiums the lip should be clean and bright, and a lip that has turned dark red or looks marked means the flower is ageing. Petals should be firm and waxy with no see-through patches or brown tips. A single standard spike is enough for a tall vase, while two or three mini spikes suit a shorter one. If a whole spike is too much, buy single blooms in water tubes. Local cymbidiums are the best value in June and July, in the middle of their season.
Grown here or imported?
Orchids are not native to Australia, but they're grown here commercially.
Where they're grown
Australia's cut orchid crop is almost all cymbidium, grown in shadehouses rather than heated glasshouses. The plants come from the Himalayan region and like 30 to 50 per cent light, so they grow well around Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with a few growers in cooler hinterland spots of south-east Queensland. A mature plant can carry up to eight spikes, each with as many as 20 flowers. Growers tend to be small specialist nurseries, often family run, that sell cut spikes to florists alongside flowering pot plants. A new cross can take up to ten years to reach flowering size.
Out of season, florists bring in imported stems, mostly from Thailand. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- cream
- lemon
- green
- apricot
- pink
- burgundy
- lilac
Varieties to ask for
- Cymbidium (standard)
- Cymbidium (mini)
- Dendrobium
- Phalaenopsis
- Vanda
Vase life
14 to 28 days
Making them last
- Choose spikes with at least two open flowers and clean, unmarked blooms
- Recut the stem and stand in fresh water, or keep single blooms in their water tube
- Use a clear vase so you can watch the water level
- Keep away from heaters, draughts and fruit
- Refresh water every few days and recut the stem each time
Using them at home
A single cymbidium spike in a tall, narrow glass is a whole arrangement. For a table, cut individual blooms off an older spike and float them in a shallow bowl, or put one each in small bottles down the middle. They also sit well with winter natives such as banksia and grey eucalyptus, or with protea for something bolder. Flowers stay open for weeks, and when the lowest bloom fades you can snip it off and the rest carries on. Green and burgundy cymbidiums look especially good against dark timber or stoneware.
Meaning
Traditionally a symbol of refinement and beauty.
Where to see them growing
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best months: all year
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best months: all year
Questions people ask
When are orchids in season in Australia?
Australian-grown cut cymbidium orchids are in season from about May to September, peaking over winter. Tropical orchids such as dendrobium and phalaenopsis are available all year, mostly imported from South-East Asia.
Is a potted orchid a good Mother's Day gift?
Yes, if she likes looking after plants. A flowering potted cymbidium holds its flowers for weeks and can flower again each year. Keep it in bright light without harsh afternoon sun, water when the mix is nearly dry and feed it through the warmer months. Many people keep cymbidiums outdoors in a sheltered spot.
How long do cut orchids last?
Cut cymbidiums last two to four weeks in a vase with fresh water, which is longer than almost any other cut flower. Keep them away from heaters and fruit.
Which orchids are grown in Australia for cut flowers?
Cymbidiums are the main locally grown cut orchid, in standard and mini sizes. Most dendrobium, vanda and phalaenopsis stems in florists are imported, which is why you can buy them in any month.
Are orchids poisonous to cats?
The ASPCA lists moth orchids (phalaenopsis) as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and names cymbidiums and dendrobiums among pet-safe orchids too. A cat that eats a lot of flower or leaf may still get a mild upset stomach, so keep vases out of chewing range, but orchids are one of the safer choices for pet owners.
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