Orchids of Brisbane

Printable Version

Thank you to these people for there contribution to this orchid information.

If you want to print this flowering table, download the Printable Version.  This version is a Acrobat (pdf) file and is suitable for printing.  For those without an Acrobat reader, it is available here.

Where to look for Native Orchids

Orchids can be found scattered throughout the Brisbane area.  Orchids are surprisingly common and can be found in most areas of bush, but are most prolific in the rainforest areas and their surrounds.  Even in the dry sclerophyll forests of the Brisbane suburbs, orchids can be found, sometimes in large numbers.  For example, four different genera of orchid grow in a piece of dry open eucalypt forest within 6km of the Brisbane CBD.  Orchids are everywhere.  You just have to look.

Collecting Orchids

All native orchids are protected by Australian law and must not be disturbed or removed.  Many native orchids are becoming rare due to habitat destruction and collection, so we must care for orchids and they definitely must not be removed or flowers picked.  Please enjoy looking at our orchids and take all the photos you desire, but please do not disturb our orchids.

Growing Native Orchids

If you want to grow one of our native orchids for yourself, please check out our nursery page for where to purchase them. In addition, KABI or your local orchid society will be able to assist you with further information on growing native orchids in your local conditions.

New Native Orchid Flowering Records

We are always looking for for native orchids growing around Brisbane, so if you should find any orchids growing in the Brisbane area, especially ones for which we do not have flowering records or photographs, please drop us an e-mail so we can update our records. We would love to hear from you.

What Orchids Occur in the Brisbane Area

The table below lists the orchids we believe currently grow in the Brisbane area.  The month in the table indicates the orchid has been seen in flower in the Brisbane area by a KABI member since the year 2000.  The olive shading indicates when the orchid should be in flower according to the reference books.  

The area covered includes Brisbane city and the ranges surrounding it.  It includes Lamington national park and Mt Tambourine to the south, Brisbane Forest Park to the west to Mt Mee and Belthorpe to the north plus everything in-between.

Many native orchid species occur over large areas of Australia and show extreme variation. The descriptions and photos on this website are of the orchids occurring in the Brisbane area and we have not included the variations occurring outside this area. All photos are of typical wild orchid forms occurring in the Brisbane area and are not of line bred varieties which do not resemble their wild predecessors.