---
title: "Cymbidium (boat orchids): classification, 118 accepted species, distribution | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-10
publisher: Floreboard (芳华绘)
---

Curtis's Botanical Magazine · 5126 · 1859 · Walter Hood Fitch · public domain

# Cymbidium Sw.

boat orchids · Orchidaceae

- **Accepted name:** Cymbidium Sw.
- **First published:** Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal., ser. 2, 6: 70 (1799)
- **Family:** Orchidaceae
- **Accepted species:** 118 (including 26 natural hybrids)
- **Native range:** 37 TDWG regions, tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia
- **Common names:** boat orchids
- **Databases:** [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330383-2) · [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/n/330383-2) · [WCVP](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232/taxon/53067) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/8VWNG) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2782293)

## Overview

Cymbidium belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae, ranging from tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia. In horticulture and floristry, it divides into two distinct groups: the traditional terrestrial Chinese cymbidiums (such as C. faberi, C. goeringii, and C. ensifolium), cherished for subtle fragrance and foliage; and the large-flowered Cymbidium hybrids developed from epiphytic and semi-epiphytic wild species, renowned worldwide as festive potted plants and durable cut flowers.

## Classification and naming

Swartz published Cymbidium in 1799. The name derives from the Greek kymbe (boat), referring to the hollowed boat-like lip. WCVP currently treats genera such as Cyperorchis, Imerinaea, and Pachyrhizanthe as synonyms of Cymbidium.

| Genus name | Published in |
| --- | --- |
| × Cyperocymbidium A.D.Hawkes | Orchid Rev. 72: 420 (1964) |
| Arethusantha Finet | Bull. Soc. Bot. France 44: 179 (1897) |
| Cymbidiopsis H.J.Chowdhery | Indian J. Forest. 32: 154 (2009) |
| Cyperorchis Blume | Rumphia 4: 47 (1849) |
| Iridorchis Blume | Coll. Orchid.: 90 (1859) |
| Jensoa Raf. | Fl. Tellur. 4: 38 (1838) |
| Liuguishania Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang | J. S. China Agric. Univ. 19(1): 73 (1998) |
| Pachyrhizanthe (Schltr.) Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 45: 109 (1931) |
| Wutongshania Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang | J. S. China Agric. Univ. 19(1): 74 (1998) |

## Distribution

WCVP records the genus as native to 37 TDWG botanical regions and introduced in 1 more.

Andaman Is.AssamBangladeshBorneoCambodiaChina North-CentralChina South-CentralChina SoutheastEast HimalayaHainanIndiaJapanJawaKoreaLaosLesser Sunda Is.MalayaMalukuMyanmarNansei-shotoNepalNew GuineaNew South WalesNicobar Is.Northern TerritoryPakistanPhilippinesQueenslandSri LankaSulawesiSumateraTaiwanThailandTibetVietnamWest HimalayaWestern Australia

### Introduced

Hawaii

## Accepted species

WCVP accepts 118 species; names with × are natural hybrids. The count changes with revisions; checked 2026-10-20.

| Name | On this site |
| --- | --- |
| Cymbidium acuminatum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones |   |
| Cymbidium aliciae Quisumb. |   |
| Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. |   |
| Cymbidium atrolabium X.Y.Liao, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium atropurpureum (Lindl.) Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium × ballianum Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium banaense Gagnep. |   |
| Cymbidium × baoshanense F.Y.Liu & Perner |   |
| Cymbidium bavuongii Aver. & V.C.Nguyen |   |
| Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium biflorens D.Y.Zhang, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium borneense J.J.Wood |   |
| Cymbidium brevifolium Zhuang Zhou, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium canaliculatum R.Br. |   |
| Cymbidium changningense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium × charlesworthii Rolfe & Hurst |   |
| Cymbidium chloranthum Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium cochleare Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium codonanthum Yuting Jiang, Liang Ma & S.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium concinnum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium crassifolium Herb. |   |
| Cymbidium × cravenianim Anon. |   |
| Cymbidium cyperifolium Wall. ex Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium daweishanense G.Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium dayanum Rchb.f. |   |
| Cymbidium defoliatum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium devonianum Paxton |   |
| Cymbidium dianlan H.He |   |
| Cymbidium × dilatatiphyllum J.M.H.Shaw |   |
| Cymbidium eburneum Lindl. | 1 plate |
| Cymbidium elegans Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium elongatum J.J.Wood, Du Puy & Shim |   |
| Cymbidium ensifolium (L.) Sw. | 1 plate |
| Cymbidium erythraeum Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium erythrostylum Rolfe |   |
| [Cymbidium faberi Rolfe](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium-faberi/) | reference page |
| Cymbidium finlaysonianum Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium floribundum Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium × florinda Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium formosanum Hayata |   |
| Cymbidium × fugongense S.Ke, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium × gammieanum King & Pantl. |   |
| Cymbidium gaoligongense Z.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang |   |
| Cymbidium × glebelandense Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium goeringii (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. |   |
| Cymbidium haematodes Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium hartinahianum J.B.Comber & Nasution |   |
| Cymbidium hengbungense A.N.Rao, Chowlu, H.B.Sharma, K.S.Thithila & D.S.Thokchom |   |
| Cymbidium × hillii F.Muell. ex Regel |   |
| Cymbidium hookerianum Rchb.f. |   |
| Cymbidium huikanran Jun Li bis & S.R.Lan |   |
| Cymbidium induratifolium Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang |   |
| Cymbidium insigne Rolfe | 1 plate |
| Cymbidium iridioides D.Don | 1 plate |
| Cymbidium jiangchengense Ying L.Peng, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium kanran Makino |   |
| Cymbidium lancifolium Hook. |   |
| Cymbidium ledinhhienii Aver., Vuong & V.C.Nguyen |   |
| Cymbidium lii M.Z.Huang, J.M.Yin & G.S.Yang |   |
| Cymbidium longipes Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang |   |
| Cymbidium lowianum (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. |   |
| Cymbidium macrorhizon Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium madidum Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium × magnificum Schltr. |   |
| Cymbidium maguanense F.Y.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium × malipoense L.J.Chen, Hong B.Zhou & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium × maronii Rolfe & Hurst |   |
| Cymbidium mastersii Griff. ex Lindl. |   |
| Cymbidium micranthum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium × monanthum J.M.H.Shaw |   |
| Cymbidium motuoense W.Q.Hu, Qinghai Zhang & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium munronianum King & Pantl. |   |
| Cymbidium nanulum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium × nishiuchianum Makino ex J.M.H.Shaw |   |
| Cymbidium × nomachianum T.Yukawa & Nob.Tanaka |   |
| Cymbidium × nujiangense X.P.Zhou, S.P.Lei & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium × oblancifolium Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium omeiense Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium parishii Rchb.f. |   |
| Cymbidium × pauwelsii J.G.Fowler |   |
| Cymbidium puerense Z.J.Liu & S.R.Lan |   |
| Cymbidium × purpuratum L.J.Chen, Li.Q.Li & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium purpureisepalum M.J.Zhu & S.R.Lan |   |
| Cymbidium qiubeiense K.M.Feng & H.Li |   |
| Cymbidium rectum Ridl. |   |
| Cymbidium recurvatum Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & P.J.Cribb |   |
| Cymbidium repens Aver. & Q.T.Phan |   |
| Cymbidium × rosefieldense Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium roseum J.J.Sm. |   |
| Cymbidium sanderae (Rolfe) P.J.Cribb & Du Puy |   |
| Cymbidium sangii Aver. & V.C.Nguyen |   |
| Cymbidium schroederi Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium × sedenii Rolfe & Hurst |   |
| Cymbidium seidenfadenii (P.J.Cribb & Du Puy) P.J.Cribb |   |
| Cymbidium serratum Schltr. |   |
| Cymbidium shidianense G.Z.Chen, G.Q.Zhang & L.J.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium sichuanicum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium sigmoideum J.J.Sm. |   |
| Cymbidium sinense (Andrews) Willd. | 1 plate |
| Cymbidium suave R.Br. |   |
| Cymbidium suavissimum Sander ex C.H.Curtis |   |
| Cymbidium sungwookii Aver., Vuong & V.C.Nguyen |   |
| Cymbidium tamphianum Aver. |   |
| Cymbidium teretipetiolatum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen |   |
| Cymbidium tigrinum C.S.P.Parish ex Hook. |   |
| Cymbidium tortisepalum Fukuy. |   |
| Cymbidium tracyanum L.Castle |   |
| Cymbidium × veitchii Rolfe & Hurst |   |
| Cymbidium viride Sanjeet Kumar |   |
| Cymbidium wadae T.Yukawa |   |
| Cymbidium weishanense X.Yu & Z.J.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium wenshanense Y.S.Wu & F.Y.Liu |   |
| Cymbidium whiteae King & Pantl. |   |
| Cymbidium × wiganianum Rolfe & Hurst |   |
| Cymbidium wilsonii H.J.Veitch |   |
| Cymbidium × winnianum Anon. |   |
| Cymbidium × woodlandense Rolfe |   |
| Cymbidium xichouense Xin Y.Xu, C.C.Ding & S.R.Lan |   |

## Historic plates

Plates in date order; the printed names are kept as they appear, current names are on the species pages and the topic page.

- [](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/plates/bm-888.jpg)Epidendrum sinenseCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 888 · 1806, Sydenham Edwards
- [](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/plates/bm-1751.jpg)Cymbidium ensifoliumCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 1751 · 1815, Sydenham Edwards
- [](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/plates/bm-4844.jpg)Cymbidium giganteumCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 4844 · 1855, Walter Hood Fitch
- [](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/plates/bm-5126.jpg)Cymbidium eburneumCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 5126 · 1859, Walter Hood Fitch
- [](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/plates/bm-8312.jpg)Cymbidium insigneCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 8312 · 1910, Matilda Smith

## Horticulture and floristry

Cymbidium hybrids require cooler night temperatures (10–14 °C) in autumn to initiate flower spikes. As cut flowers, they offer robust stems and exceptional vase life of 2–3 weeks in cool conditions. Postharvest handling requires strict protection from ethylene: accidental dislodging of the anther cap triggers rapid ethylene generation and causes swift discoloration and wilting.

## Further reading

- [Cymbidium faberi · Faber’s cymbidium](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/cymbidium-faberi/)
- [Cymbidium hybrids topic library (in Chinese)](https://floreboard.com/cymbidium/)
- [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
- [Kew POWO · Cymbidium: classification and distribution](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330383-2)
- [RHS · How to grow cymbidium orchids](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/cymbidium-orchids/how-to-grow-cymbidium-orchids)
- [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.