Vanda Miss Joaquim Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim
Vanda Miss Joaquim (Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, native to A garden hybrid raised in Singapore in 1893 (Papilionanthe hookeriana × P. teres); Singapore's national flower. It grows 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall and 40–80 cm (16–31 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 12 °C (54 °F). Space plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart.
Plan Vanda Miss Joaquim in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Vanda Miss Joaquim at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Orchidaceae |
| Mature height | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Mature spread | 40–80 cm (16–31 in) |
| Spacing | 50 cm (20 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 12 °C (54 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | A garden hybrid raised in Singapore in 1893 (Papilionanthe hookeriana × P. teres); Singapore's national flower |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Vanda Miss Joaquim toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Orchids are generally listed as non-toxic; no data for this hybrid.
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 Vanda Miss Joaquim
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Vanda Miss Joaquim in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (28 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (10 plants)
Questions about Vanda Miss Joaquim
- How far apart should I plant Vanda Miss Joaquim?
- About 50 cm (20 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–80 cm (16–31 in).
- Does Vanda Miss Joaquim need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Vanda Miss Joaquim need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Vanda Miss Joaquim?
- It tolerates about 12 °C (54 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Vanda Miss Joaquim flower?
- From about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Vanda Miss Joaquim 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. Orchids are generally listed as non-toxic; no data for this hybrid.
- What grows well with Vanda Miss Joaquim?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Vanda Miss Joaquim. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Singapore Botanic Gardens: Rainforest, National Orchid Garden, Ginger Garden, Learning Forest, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- A scrambling orchid with pencil-thin (terete) leaves, grown on stakes in full sun; rosy-violet flowers with a broad, orange-spotted lip almost all year.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Tiger orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum
- Moon orchid (moth orchid) Phalaenopsis amabilis
- Pigeon orchid Dendrobium crumenatum
- Philippine ground orchid Spathoglottis plicata
- Bamboo orchid Arundina graminifolia
- Veitch's masdevallia Masdevallia veitchiana
- Crimson cattleya Cattleya labiata
- Red disa (Pride of Table Mountain) Disa uniflora