Ludisia discolor
This Southeast Asian terrestrial orchid is prized for velvety, intricately veined leaves, tolerates low light, is easy to care for as an indoor plant, and tends to bloom with small white flowers on tall inflorescences, often in winter.
Common Names
Jewel Orchid, Jewel Orchids, Black Jewel Orchid, Golden Lace Orchid, Tiger Orchid
Summary
Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial orchid native to Southeast Asia, growing as a creeping ground-hugging plant with velvety dark green leaves veined with red or magenta patterns; it is evergreen and spreads via creeping rhizomes, with spikes carrying small white flowers rising above the foliage.
In cultivation, it prefers bright indirect light and warm, stable temperatures around 65–75°F (18–24°C), with evenly moist, well-draining soil kept moist but not soggy; repot every 1–3 years and propagate by stem cuttings or rhizome division. Common uses include indoor plant displays and terrariums; it is not toxic to pets.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-12 inches
Spread
4-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 11-12
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-draining loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-draining soil
Soil pH
5.5-6.5, slightly acidic
Bloom Color
White to creamy white or off-white, with yellow accents (lip, center, or labellum)
Bloom Time
Fall and Winter
Foliage Color
Dark green foliage with red veins
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage colors.
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Ludisia discolor is slow-growing overall; typically reaches about 20 inches tall in 2–5 years and spreads about 15–20 inches across, with around 5 cm of new growth per season and occasional rapid growth during favorable seasons.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Air layering, Offshoot separation, Rhizome cuttings
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Ker Gawl.) Blume
- Publication
- Fl. Javae Nov. Ser. : 95 (1859)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Ludisia
Synonyms
Anoectochilus ordeanus Kuhlhasseltia carrii Ludisia furetii Ludisia odorata Ludisia otletae Myoda rufescens Neottia discolor Orchiodes discolor Haemaria discolor var. ordeana Goodyera ordiana Haemaria discolor var. concolor Haemaria discolor var. condorensis Haemaria discolor var. denisoniana Haemaria discolor var. grandis Haemaria discolor var. rhodoneura Haemaria discolor var. trilineata Haemaria rubrovenia Ludisia discolor var. ordiana Anoectochilus ordianus Dicrophyla elegans Gonogona discolor Goodyera discolor Goodyera ordeana Goodyera rodigasciana Goodyera rubrovenia Haemaria dawsoniana Haemaria discolor Haemaria otletae Haemaria pauciflora Ludisia discolor Haemaria dawsoniana Anoectochilus rubrovenia Goodyera dawsoniana Anoectochilus ordianus Haemaria dawsoniana Haemaria discolor var. ordeana Anoectochilus dawsonianus Ludisia dawsoniana Haemaria discolor var. dawsoniana Ludisia discolor var. dawsoniana