Really in love with the Chinese cymbidiums and their hybrids! This is my one and only (so far!) species Chinese cymbidium, acquired as a few blades of grass at an Acadian Orchid Society Show in Lafayette from It's A Jungle in February 1997. It surprised me with two inflorescences in August! Two blooms on one inflorescence, one on the other.

I am growing this species cymbidium in a traditional Chinese cymbidium pot which is tall and comparatively narrow with drainage holes in both sides and bottom, and glazed only on the outside of the pot. I am using a combination of a small bark terrestrial mix and small charcoal mix.

Along with Cym. Enid Haupt, ensifolium is the parent of another prized member of my collection: Cym. Golden Elf. I also have a recently acquired Cym. Tender Love (parishii x ensifolium), and Cym. Florida Flamingo (sinense x Cleo Sherman). The sinense hybrid has a spike of a dozen or more small red cymbidium flowers and blooms reliably over Christmas and New Year's!

Cymbidium species have been cultivated in China and Japan for at least 2500 years, with earliest written record being Confucius about 500 BC. Among the oldest are the warm-growing Chinese cymbidiums making up Section Jensoa: ensifolium, munronianum, sinense and kanran; ensifolium and sinense have been used in modern hybridizing, seeking small statured, warmth tolerant hybrids.