subject: Orchid Types - Chocolate Orchids [print this page] Orchids are one of the most fragrant flowers in the world. With over 32,000 species as of now, there is surely a scent to satisfy your senses. If you enjoy the sweet and tasty or the weird and the mundane, these plants have it all. They use this uncanny characteristic to attract would-be carriers of their genes to their mates. This is one of the greatest weapon of orchid propagation.
Chocolate and orchid lovers alike would be delighted to know that there are certain orchid species that imitate the sweet and alluring scent of chocolate. Although these orchids cannot be eaten, they allow those with a sweet tooth to enjoy the scent of chocolate without the additional calories. Or if calories are the least of your worries, then you can enjoy them together with a hot cup of cocoa to boost the experience of chocolate overload.
Going back to the topic, here are the two species of orchids that I am talking about:
Oncidium Sharry Baby
Some say vanilla; some say chocolate. Nevertheless the flowers of these species are one of the sweetest fragrances you can smell. The Sharry Baby is relatively one of the easiest orchids to grow. Aside from its impressive smell, it also impresses in size. Its spiky stems can reach up to 3 feet in height with multiple (up to a hundred) purple-red mini blooms. Its velvety long green leaves are the perfect frame to showcase its amazing sweet-scented flowers.
Encyclia Phoenicium
Also known as the chocolate doll of Cuba, this orchid species may be the nearest imitation of chocolate scent there is. Its intoxicating fragrant flowers originally can be found in Cuba, Mexico and other Caribbean Islands. This is a very tough orchid.
It can withstand drought and many beginners' mistakes because it is a heartier plant. It has a thin, moderately spiky stem that can grow several large flowers, anywhere from 5 to 20. The color of the flowers varies a lot. It comes in white to purple shades having leaves that are thick and round. Its petals and lips usually are in contrast, just like its albino breed of white lips and green petals.
Chocolate lovers will find new appreciation for these orchids once they smell their luscious chocolate smell, while for orchid growers these orchids are a must-have. The next time someone tells you to stop and smell the flowers, just smell the sweet scent of chocolate with your most loved flowers, the orchids.
