If you are looking for the name of a white orchid, the answer is almost always the same: the white orchid you see in shops, offices and gift baskets is a white Phalaenopsis, also called the moth orchid. But there are many other white orchids, from the dove-shaped Holy Ghost orchid of Panama to the star-shaped Darwin's orchid of Madagascar. Here are their names, how to recognize them and which ones you can send as a gift.
White orchid names at a glance
| Common name | Scientific name | Known for |
| White moth orchid | Phalaenopsis (white hybrids) | The classic white orchid in a pot |
| Moon orchid (anggrek bulan) | Phalaenopsis amabilis | A national flower of Indonesia |
| Holy Ghost orchid, dove orchid | Peristeria elata | National flower of Panama |
| Darwin's orchid, Star of Bethlehem orchid | Angraecum sesquipedale | A very long nectar spur |
| White egret orchid (sagisō) | Pecteilis radiata | Flowers shaped like a bird in flight |
| Lady of the night | Brassavola nodosa | Fragrant after dark |
| White Cattleya | Cattleya | The corsage orchid |
| White Dendrobium and white Cymbidium | Dendrobium, Cymbidium | Long-lasting cut orchids for bouquets |
1. White moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)
This is the answer most people need. The white orchid with flat, rounded petals arching on a long stem is a white Phalaenopsis hybrid, known as the moth orchid because the flowers look like moths in flight. Longwood Gardens calls Phalaenopsis "one of the most recognizable orchids today" and notes that the flowers can last three or more months. It is also one of the easiest orchids to keep at home, which is why it is the most common orchid gift. See our orchid care guide to keep it blooming.
2. Moon orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)
The moon orchid is the wild white species behind many of today's white moth orchids. It grows naturally from Maritime Southeast Asia to New Guinea and Australia, and carries 2 to 10 long-lasting white flowers, each about 6 to 7 cm. In Indonesia it is called anggrek bulan and it is one of the country's three national flowers, the puspa pesona, recognized in 1993. It is also a parent of the first Phalaenopsis hybrid ever registered, in 1887.
3. Holy Ghost orchid (Peristeria elata)
Also called the dove orchid or flor del Espíritu Santo. Look inside the waxy white flower and the center looks like a small white dove. It has been the national flower of Panama since 1936 and blooms from about July to October. It is protected under CITES Appendix I, so you won't find it at a florist.
4. Darwin's orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale)
Also called the Christmas orchid or Star of Bethlehem orchid, this star-shaped orchid is native only to Madagascar. The flower opens greenish and turns white, and it has a nectar spur of about 33 cm. In 1862 Charles Darwin predicted that a moth with a tongue that long must pollinate it. The moth, Xanthopan morganii praedicta, was found in 1903. When grown in Europe it usually blooms around December and January, which explains the Christmas names.
5. White egret orchid (Pecteilis radiata)
Known as sagisō in Japanese, its white fringed flowers look like an egret with open wings. It is native to Japan, Korea, China and Russia, has 2 to 3 flowers in late summer and is the official flower of Setagaya, in Tokyo.
6. Lady of the night (Brassavola nodosa)
A pale orchid with a wide white lip and slender petals, native from Mexico and Central America to the West Indies and northern South America. Its name comes from its citrus, gardenia-like scent, which starts in the early evening and is strongest after dark to attract night-flying moths. Many white orchids work the same way: white shows up well at night, so moths can find them.
7. White Cattleya
Cattleyas are known as the corsage orchid, with large ruffled flowers and a showy lip. White Cattleyas are a traditional choice for weddings and formal events. They are native to Central and South America.
8. White Dendrobium and white Cymbidium
These are the white orchids you are most likely to find in a bouquet rather than in a pot. Longwood Gardens describes Dendrobium hybrids as "the most common cut-flower orchid" thanks to their long-lasting flowers, and Cymbidium stems are often used as cut flowers in arrangements.
What does a white orchid mean?
White orchids are usually given to say respect, elegance and purity. They are a popular choice for weddings and new homes, as a thank-you, and as a sympathy gift: a white orchid plant is calm and respectful, and it lasts for weeks, long after cut flowers have faded.
Send a white orchid
A local florist in the recipient's country prepares and hand-delivers the plant, so nothing is shipped from abroad and you pay a flat US$14.95 delivery and service fee. A few options:
- White Orchid in Pot in Norway
- Opulent White Orchid and Deluxe Opulent White Orchid in Sweden
- Orchidée Blanche in France
- White Orchid in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Barbados
- Orchid delivery to many other countries
Frequently asked questions
What is the name of the white orchid?
The common white orchid sold in pots is a white Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. Other white orchids include the moon orchid, the Holy Ghost orchid, Darwin's orchid, the white egret orchid and the lady of the night.
What is the white orchid with a dove inside called?
The Holy Ghost orchid or dove orchid, Peristeria elata, the national flower of Panama.
What is the white star-shaped orchid called?
Darwin's orchid or Star of Bethlehem orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale, from Madagascar.
Which white orchid is a national flower?
The Holy Ghost orchid is the national flower of Panama, and the moon orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) is one of Indonesia's three national flowers.
Which white orchid is easiest to grow at home?
The white Phalaenopsis. It grows well indoors in bright, indirect light and its flowers can last for months.
Related guides
- How to Choose an Orchid Gift From Far Away
- How to Care for Orchids — A Complete Beginner's Guide
- How to care for an orchid: the 5 most important aspects
abcFlora delivers hand-arranged flowers through local florists in Panama and 123+ other countries, for a flat US$14.95 international fee. Send flowers to Panama.