It doesn’t take long for visitors to Costa Rica to notice the variety of colorful flowers that grow almost everywhere in this lush, green, tropical oasis. They bloom on shrubs and hang from trees, climb powerlines, and seek refuge high in the jungle canopy overhead.
While there are many types of flowering plants found here, perhaps the most highly prized are the orchids. It should come as no surprise, therefore, to know that Costa Rica’s National Flower is the Guaria Morada Orchid.
These rich purple blooms blanket the countryside in color, attracting myriad species of pollinators and hummingbirds, which is in stark contrast to how orchids present in North American markets and flower shops.
There they are sold as a single curving stem dripping with delicate flowers in all shapes and sizes. We spend a fortune on them, and take them home, only to watch the flowers fade away. Then they sit in a corner… a few long green leaves in a pot, providing only memories of magnificence.
Here in Costa Rica, they flourish and thrive, hardy and opportunistic, and we are all better for the beauty they provide, and the nourishment they give.
In fact, the relationship between orchids and pollinators is so vital to the health of both that botanists have noticed that when orchids are late to bloom, the emergence of bees to awake from hibernation is also delayed.
The orchids provide nectar for the bees, and in turn, bees can pollinate up to 700 different species of orchid! It's the perfect example of symbiosis. In a recent interview done by the Wildlife Conservation Society, K. S. Shashidhar, former Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, stated his belief that the presence of orchids is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem, helping botanists to notice when the forests are in decline.
Luckily the careful protection and curation of the many conservationists in Monteverde’s reserves means that our forests are alive with many colors and varieties of orchids, and they can be seen up close in the wild along trails and dangling from trees.
If you enjoy wandering down quiet pathways, between lush greenery, shaded from the heat of the sun by the verdant canopy far above, then seeing orchids is as simple as visiting one of Monteverde’s beautiful reserves.
To help you decide which one is right for you, you can read our Deep Dive into the Reserves of Monteverde.
If hiking isn’t something that interests you, they can also be seen in the Monteverde Orchid Garden. Here you will find 300m of trails accessible for all ages, and 450 species of which 120 or so will be in bloom every day, and you are sure to be stunned by the incredible array of shapes, sizes, and colors to be found in one place. Luckily, guided tours are included in your entrance fee and will ensure that you don’t miss any of the amazing blooms on display.
With so many varieties of orchids available, it would be impossible to tell you about all of them, so we have narrowed the field into two main categories, ones you are likely to buy and grow, and ones you will find in the wild
In terms of types that you can buy or grow and enjoy in the comfort of your home, there are 4 main types:
Moth orchids are the most common and likely the ones you are most familiar with. The Phalaenopsis variety which is often sold in shades of white or purplish-pink, is usually seen with multiple blooms on a single, graceful stock. While they only bloom once or twice a year, the blooms are long-lasting. In the wild, phalaenopsis are epiphytes that attach themselves to trees in constantly moist environments.
Dendrobium orchids are also commonly found in stores or florist shops in plenty of beautiful colors. The dendrobium hybrid has rather delicate stalks branching from a central stalk. They are endemic to New Guinea, Southern China, Thailand, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Tahiti, all of which have unique climates. They are, in fact, commonly used in Chinese medicine and are listed as one of the 50 fundamental herbs. As a general rule of thumb dendrobiums require a fairly warm location to thrive and are known to grow in lowland tropical forests, but they are not native to Costa Rica.
Slipper orchids are easily identifiable thanks to their slipper-like shape with their central pouch. There are 4 genera of slipper orchids, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium, and Selenipedium. These are not recommended for a novice because they can be difficult to grow. Some, like the Paphiopedilum sanderianum are highly prized and can be extremely expensive but are also gorgeous to look at.
And finally, there are Boat Orchids, like the cybidium with their big, showy, long-lasting blooms that have been wowing people for more than 2,000 years and can even be seen in drawings from the time of Confucious!
It is estimated that there are no fewer than 1,400 wild orchid varieties in the forest of Costa Rica, with 500 in Monteverde alone! Still, with such a wide variety of shapes and colors, you may not even recognize some as orchids.
They can be tiny and delicate, hidden amongst the tall grasses…
Or tall and graceful.
They can be in clusters of tiny blooms.
Or singular flowers on wispy stalks… and found in hundreds of other shapes and sizes!
Regardless of their shape, size, color, or where you find them, there is just something about them that catches our eye and warms our hearts. They are wild and exotic. They are mysterious and sought after. And they are an integral part of Costa Rica’s culture.
The Guaria Morada has been the National flower for more than 80 years, but it wasn’t until 33 years later that its importance to the community prompted the government to dedicate an entire week of celebrations (the 2nd week of March) to the orchid, and in particular the Guaria Morada.
It is believed to bring good fortune and luck and to promote peace, family harmony, and love. This is especially true during Lent and the week leading up to Easter when the flowers are placed on church altars around the country and decorate lawns, homes, and even roofs, spreading their delicate scent for everyone to enjoy.
Perhaps the appeal of this delicate flower, however, has less to do with beauty, and more to do with the similarity between the symbiotic nature of this plant (which relies on the trees of the forest for support) and the interconnected nature of Costa Rican culture as a whole.
Maybe some part of them recognizes the lesson that can be learned from the world around us.
That none of us can thrive alone, that we are stronger when we work together, and that beauty can be found in the most amazing places.