Christmas Orchids are Sun Smart!

If you look very closely at the individual flowers of the Christmas orchid you can see a small child with legs and arms, a cute little face all under a very big sun hat. Come and see them flowering now in the Tropical Shade Garden of the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Just like Christmas decorations in the shops, the Christmas Orchid is appearing now!

The Christmas Orchid Calanthe australasica is an evergreen terrestrial orchid. It has soft, obovate leaves which grow to 90cm with showy white flowers borne on erect spikes to 150cm in summer.  Commonly seen locally at Eungella, especially on the Wishing Pool Circuit, near Crediton Hall and in the Tropical Shade Garden at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Distribution: QLD, NSW, South-east Asia.

Propagation: From seed or by division.

Cultivation: Readily grown in heavily shaded, moist but not badly drained position in sheltered, warm garden and the Christmas orchid is an excellent pot plant.

Contact: Maya Harrison

Phone: 49527300

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