Noble dendrobium Dendrobium nobile
Noble dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, native to Himalaya, southern China and Indochina, on trees in mountain forest. It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 20–40 cm (8–16 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
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Noble dendrobium at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Orchidaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 20–40 cm (8–16 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 104–156 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Himalaya, southern China and Indochina, on trees in mountain forest |
| Common in gardens of | 🇮🇳 India, 🇨🇳 China, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is Noble dendrobium toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous to cats or dogs (ASPCA lists dendrobiums as non-toxic).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Noble dendrobium
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
Questions about Noble dendrobium
- How far apart should I plant Noble dendrobium?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–40 cm (8–16 in).
- Does Noble dendrobium need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Noble dendrobium need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Noble dendrobium?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Noble dendrobium flower?
- About 104–156 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks.
- Is Noble dendrobium poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous to cats or dogs (ASPCA lists dendrobiums as non-toxic).
- What grows well with Noble dendrobium?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Noble dendrobium. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
Notes and assumptions
- A tropical plant: outdoors only in frost-free, humid climates; elsewhere a houseplant for bright, indirect light that likes warmth and humidity and hates cold draughts.
- Upright, cane-like pseudobulbs that flower all along their length in late winter with fragrant white, pink and purple flowers with a dark-eyed lip. It needs a cool, dry rest in autumn (about 10 °C at night) to make flower buds instead of new shoots. The stems are a traditional Chinese medicine (shi hu).
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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- Veitch's masdevallia Masdevallia veitchiana
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