---
title: "Cymbidium faberi: names, distribution, cultural history and plates | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium-faberi/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-10
publisher: Floreboard (芳华绘)
---

# Cymbidium faberi Rolfe

Faber’s cymbidium · Orchidaceae

- **Accepted name:** Cymbidium faberi Rolfe
- **First published:** Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1896: 198 (1896)
- **Genus:** [Cymbidium](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium/) Sw. · Orchidaceae
- **Common names:** Faber’s cymbidium
- **Native range:** China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet
- **Databases:** [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:625000-1) · [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/n/625000-1) · [WCVP](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232/taxon/53168) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/336G3) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/5305646)

## Identification and cultural history

Cymbidium faberi is one of the celebrated terrestrial orchids of China. Its upright leaves have serrate margins; in spring it produces erect racemes bearing 9–20 or more scented blossoms. Northern Song poet Huang Tingjian famously distinguished it from spring orchid (C. goeringii) in Shu Youfang Ting: “that with one flower per stem and rich fragrance is Lan; that with five to seven flowers per stem is Hui”.

## Nomenclature and synonyms

Rolfe published the species in the Kew Bulletin in 1896, based on collections made by Ernst Faber on Mount Emei in Sichuan, China. WCVP lists synonyms including Cymbidium oiwakense and Cymbidium faberi var. omeiense.

| Name | Published in |
| --- | --- |
| Cymbidium faberi Rolfe | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1896: 198 (1896) |

6 heterotypic synonyms

| Cymbidium cerinum Schltr. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 12: 350 (1922) |
| --- | --- |
| Cymbidium fukiense T.C.Yen | Icon. Cymbid. Amoy.: A1 (1964) |
| Cymbidium oiwakense Hayata | Icon. Pl. Formosan. 6: 80 (1916) |
| Cymbidium scabroserrulatum Makino | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 16: 154 (1902) |
| Eulophia yunnanensis Rolfe | J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 36: 29 (1903) |
| Semiphajus evrardii Gagnep. | Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., sér. 2, 4: 599 (1932) |

## Distribution

WCVP records the species as native to 8 TDWG botanical regions.

China North-CentralChina South-CentralChina SoutheastEast HimalayaMyanmarNepalTaiwanTibet

## Cultivation and ecology

Cymbidium faberi develops deep, fleshy root systems and is traditionally potted in tall, slender orchid pots. The potting medium must be airy and well-draining (such as pumice, bark chunks and coarse humus). It prefers higher light intensity than C. goeringii and requires a cool vernalisation period in winter to bloom properly.

## Further reading

- [Genus Cymbidium](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium/)
- [Cymbidium faberi (Chinese orchid) topic library (in Chinese)](https://floreboard.com/huilan/#identity)
- [Flower guide](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/)
- [Reference library](https://floreboard.com/en/library/)

## References

- [WCVP · World Checklist of Vascular Plants (via ChecklistBank dataset 2232)](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232) · accessed 2026-10-20
- [iPlant (Institute of Botany, CAS) · Cymbidium faberi](https://www.iplant.cn/info/Cymbidium%20faberi)
- [Huang Tingjian · Shu Youfang Ting (Northern Song, Wikisource)](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%9B%B8%E5%B9%BD%E8%8A%B3%E4%BA%AD)
- [Kew POWO · Cymbidium faberi](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:625000-1)
- [AOS · Cymbidium Culture](https://www.aos.org/orchid-care/orchid-care-and-culture-sheets/cymbidium-culture-sheet/cymbidium-culture)

Names, places of publication, synonyms and distribution checked against WCVP (2026-10-20); the text follows the cited sources and awaits specialist review.