Dendrobium pugioniforme (Syn. Dockrillia pugioniformis)

Dendrobium pugioniforme (Syn. Dockrillia pugioniformis), the Dagger Orchid, is a distinctive Australian native epiphyte endemic to the humid forests and rocky gorges of eastern Australia — from the Bunya Mountains in south-east Queensland south to Tathra in New South Wales. Unlike the terete-leafed pencil orchids, this species carries fleshy, ovate leaves with sharply pointed tips — the dagger shape that gives it its common name. The pendulous, branching stems can form substantial cascading masses in cultivation, making it an impressive specimen on a mount or in a basket over time. Dockrillia pugioniformis is the name used by Australian growers.

What to expect

• Flowering: Spring, typically September to November. Flowers produced in ones or twos from short stems near the leaf base. Pleasantly vanilla-scented.
• Flowers: Pale green to yellowish with fine brown striations at the base and a white labellum marked with purple. Small but well-formed and fragrant.
• Plant: Pendulous, branching stems with fleshy dagger-shaped leaves. Builds into a cascading specimen over time. Supplied as an established division.

Growing notes

• Temperature: Cool to intermediate. Prefers good airflow and tolerates a drier winter rest. Suited to outdoor growing in southern Australia.
• Light: Bright filtered light. Avoid harsh direct sun.
• Water: Water regularly in spring and summer. Reduce significantly in autumn and winter — a dry rest promotes flowering.
• Mounting: Best grown mounted on cork or hardwood, or in a basket to accommodate the pendulous habit. Undisturbed plants establish well and build into specimens over successive seasons.
• Feeding: Light feeding with dilute balanced fertiliser through the growing season. Cease in autumn.

Shipping & condition

Supplied as an established division. Packed carefully to protect stems and roots during transit. Ships from the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria.