How much light does it need?

It prefers bright, filtered light to bloom well.

Can I grow it indoors?

Only if you have a very large greenhouse, as it is far too big for a typical home.

Plant guide

Tiger orchid.

Grammatophyllum speciosum

Pronounced gram-uh-toh-FILL-um spee-SEE-oh-sum

Also known as Giant Orchid, Sugar Cane Orchid, Tiger Orchid

The tiger orchid is a massive, stunning epiphyte known for being the largest orchid species in the world. It produces long, arching sprays of yellow flowers covered in striking brown spots. You'll find it growing naturally in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Another photo of Tiger orchid — Photo by Richard Dimon (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: Epiphytic orchid
Light: Bright filtered light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 25 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late spring to summer

Care

This orchid needs plenty of space and high humidity to thrive. Keep an eye out for shriveled pseudobulbs, which indicate it needs more consistent moisture. Ensure it has excellent drainage to prevent root rot in its heavy root mass.

Watering: Keep the potting medium consistently moist but never soggy.
Feeding: Use a balanced orchid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Remove spent flower spikes once they have completely withered.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its container.
Soil: Orchid bark mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Temperature: 15 to 32°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing over the edge of the container.
Potting medium breaking down into fine dust.
The plant becoming unstable in its current pot.

Safety

People: There are no reports of toxicity, but it is not intended for human consumption.
Children: Keep this massive plant away from small children to prevent injury from its heavy, woody pseudobulbs.
Contact allergens: The plant is not known to cause skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: There are no known airborne allergens associated with this orchid.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Massive pseudobulbs reaching several feet
Long, strap like leathery leaves
Large yellow flowers with brown spots
Extremely thick and heavy root system

Height: 1.5 to 3m
Spread: 1 to 2m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, brown, maroon, 7 to 10cm

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a warm, frost free environment throughout the winter. Reduce watering slightly but maintain high humidity.
In containers: It requires a very large, sturdy container or wooden crate to support its immense weight.

Division

1. Wait until the plant has finished blooming.
2. Carefully remove the plant from its container.
3. Use a sterilized blade to separate the pseudobulbs.
4. Ensure each division has at least three healthy bulbs.
5. Pot the divisions in a coarse, well draining orchid mix.

Group this orchid with other tropical epiphytes that enjoy consistent moisture and warmth.

Grows well with

Bird's Nest Fern · They share similar high humidity and shade requirements.

Similar species

Grammatophyllum scriptum · A smaller relative that is much easier to manage in a collection.

Science

Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Grammatophyllum
Order: Asparagales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Conservation: It is protected under CITES Appendix II due to overcollection in the wild.

It survives in the wild by growing on large tree branches where it captures nutrients from decaying organic matter.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ornamental specimen, botanical garden display

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How much light does it need?: It prefers bright, filtered light to bloom well.
Can I grow it indoors?: Only if you have a very large greenhouse, as it is far too big for a typical home.

Where the name comes from

The name Grammatophyllum comes from the Greek words for letter and leaf, referring to the markings on the flowers.

Good to know

It is commonly called the Tiger Orchid due to its spotted flower pattern.
The plant can grow to be truly massive, requiring significant space.
It often grows as an epiphyte on large trees in its native range.

Keep your tiger orchid growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.