highest orchid altitude growing

[moria0672]

Only a curiosity, someone know at what maximum altitude grow an orchid and what's its name?

[Royal]

Great question! Hmmm... I don't know. I'd guess maybe a Masd. in the Andes in South America. Very high alt. but also tropical. Just a guess. I'd love to see what others say.

[camille1585]

That's an interesting question. I know that Den chrysotoxum goes pretty high, and I googled it, it's found at 2000m and above. On the same website it lists Den cuthbertsonii going as high as 3500m! European terrestrials are rarely found above 2000-2200m as the warm growing season is too short for them to do their entire cycle in that time.
Sorry, I'm too tired from a long day at work to convert meters into feet!

[Grandma M]

Where's Dorothy?

[epiphyte78]

Here are a few orchids that grow at around 9850 feet (3000 meters) in the Andes...

Cyrtochilum ramosissimum
Epidendrum trachysepalum
Odontoglossum pardinum
Masdevallia dura Luer

Source: Orchid Culture

Here are a few accords that grow over 9850 feet (3000 meters) in the Himalayas...

Coelogyne corymbosa
Gastrochilus acutifolium
Panisea parviflora
Pleione hookeriana

Source: "Nepal Orchids in Pictures"

Here are a few high altitude orchids of Mount Kinabalu....

Bulbophyllum coriaceum, up to 3500 m / 11,482 ft
Coelogyne papillosa, up to 3700 m / 12,139 ft
Dendrochilum pterogyne, up to 3700 m / 12,139 ft
Platanthera kinabaluensis, up to 4000 m / 13,123 ft

Source: "The Plants of Mount Kinabalu: Orchids"

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I only know about Masdevallia selenites being a cold to cool growing Pleurothallid that naturally grows in altitudes around 2,500 m to 3,200 m.

Alot of people have a tough time growing this one because of how cold it likes to grow. I've found through experience that it likes daytime temperatures of around the mid 80's F and nighttime temperatures around the low to mid 40's F with it being able to tolerate temperatures of near freezing in the mid to high 30's F. Anything higher than these temperatures, and the leaves go a dropping dead quick.

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Grandma M

Where's Dorothy?

I was looking when I was sidetracked ..

but it isn't just the temperature but other climatic factors that these orchids are subjected to ...
as Phil describes here - Phil's Orchid Page - Main site index

[tbaenziger]

I like the fact that Camille mentioned latitude. Sheer hight would not limit many adapted plants, but water and day length (light) will limit any photosynthesis and produce stunted growth or none at all.
Another issue would be that high winds and intense ultraviolet at hights of 3000 m plus will favor dwarfing, or at least a supine (flattened to the ground) growth habit, making it harder to see the flowers. In the alpine reaches of France I saw orchids in abundance at 2500 m, but everything is low, low!
Ted

[moria0672]

Great information friends. May I quote these information in an italian forum and Blog?

Thanks all for availability.

[tbaenziger]

Do it, my friend.