KwaZulu Natal

Orchids in KwaZulu-Natal

The province of KwaZulu Natal falls within the summer rainfall region of South Africa with a wide range of topography, ranging from the top of Drakensberg at over 3000 meters above sea level down to the sub-tropical coastal belt. This has created a wide range of habitats ranging from Alpine grass and scrub down to grassland, open savannah and finally subtropical coastal forest. As a result a correspondingly wide range of orchid flora can be encountered.

The grassland areas of the KZN interior are home to many terrestrial orchids, which survive as subterranean bulbs, dormant in winter and growing and flowering in the summer season.
The river valleys and coastal belt are home to bush and forest, which support a range of epiphytic (tree-dwelling) or lithophytic (growing on rocks) orchids and orchids which inhabit the forest floors. All in all, a total of about 180 terrestrial and 44 epiphytic orchid species have been recorded for the Province (Johnson & Bytebier, 2015).

KZN is fortunate to have a number of fairly large conservation areas. The most notable are the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is about 2,428 km2 in extent and stretches some 150 km along the eastern border with Lesotho. The Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park consists of 960 km² of hilly bushveld located in central KwaZulu-Natal. This reserve is well known for its efforts in rhino conservation, but also contains a rich floral heritage. The 3320 km2 iSimangaliso Wetland Park spans 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to the Lake St. Lucia estuary in the south. It consists of major lake and estuarine systems, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests and some of the world’s highest vegetated coastal dunes. In this pristine environment, tropical orchid species found more commonly north of our borders occur. KZN also boasts a number of smaller provincial, municipal and private conservation areas.

 

Unfortunately, outside of the formal conservation areas, the environment has suffered the same ravages as elsewhere in South Africa, viz. bad farming practices, habitat destruction, agriculture and deforestation, irresponsible development etc.

WOSA was established at the World Orchid Conference in Sandton in 2014 and is leading a National Initiative to conserve and propagate indigenous orchids. In most cases our terrestrial orchids cannot be translocated successfully and we have embarked upon research projects, hopefully to overcome these hurdles.

This website clearly describes our modus operandi in mobilising support in establishing WOSA Chapters countrywide to conserve orchids in their natural habitats, and work towards creating reserves, protected areas and other safe havens in which to translocate plants.

 

Species List and Flowering Months

According to distribution records for KwaZulu Natal, the following species occur in the province. The table details the typical flowering time for each species. Due to urbanisation, several of the species listed have become very rare or possibly extinct.

 
Click orchid name for more information! Additional information available stop Red list endangered orange Orange list threatened  
 
   
No.
 Species    

Flowering Months

 
 

1

Acampe pachyglossa

    4 5 10  11  12  
 

2

Acrolophia cochlearis

    4 5 6   10  11  12  
 

3

Aerangis kirkii

    6 7 8 10 11 12  
 

4

Aerangis mysticidii

    5 6 7 10  11 12  
 

5

Angraecum chamaeanthus

    10 11 12  
 

6

Angraecum conchiferum

    1 10 11 12  
 

7

Angraecum cultriforme

      10  11 12   
 

8

Angraecum pusillum

            10  11  12   
 

9

Angraecum sacciferum

    4 10  11  12   
 

10

Ansellia africana   

    2   10  11 12  
 

11 

Bolusiella maudiae

    8 9 10 11 12  
 

12 

Bonatea boltonii

        10 11 12  
 

13 

Bonatea cassidea     1 10 11 12  
 

14 

Bonatea lamprophylla

    2 3 4 10 11  12   
 

15 

Bonatea polypodantha

    10  11  12  
 

16 

Bonatea porrecta

    2 3 4 10 11 12  
 

17 

Bonatea pulchella

    1 10  11 12  
 

18 

Bonatea saundersioides

    10 11 12  
 

19 

Bonatea speciosa

    10 11  12   
 

20 

Bonatea strudneri

    10  11   12   
 

21

Bonatea var antennifera

 
 
10 11 12   
 

22 

Brachycorythis inhambanensis

    10 11 12  
 

23 

Brachycorythis ovata

    10 11 12  
 

24 

Brachycorythis pubescens

      8 9 10 11 12   
 

25 

Brachycorythis tenuior

    8 9 10 11 12   
 

26 

Brownleea caerulea

    1 9 10 11  12  
 

27 

Brownleea galpinii subsp. Galpinii

    1     10 11 12  
 

28 

Brownleea galpinii subsp. Major

    10 11 10
 
 

29 

Brownleea macroceras

    5 6 7 10  11 2  
 

30

Brownleea parviflora

    1 8 9 10 11 12   
 

31

Brownleea recurvata

    1 10  11  12   
 

32

Bulbophyllum longiflorum

    2 3 4 5  10 11 12  
 

33

Bulbophyllum sandersonii

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   
 

34

Bulbophyllum scaberulum

    1 10 11  12  
 

35

Calanthe sylvatica

    10  11 12  
 

36

Cheirostylis nuda

    2 3 4 10  11  12   
 

37

Corycium dracomontanum 

    4 7 8 9 10 11 12  
 

38

Corycium nigrescens

 

 

8 9 10 11  12  
 

39

Corymborkis corymbis

 

 

3 4 10  11  12   
 

40

Cynorkis compacta

    1 2 10 11 12   
 

41

Cyrtorchis arcuata

    10 11 12   
 

42

Cyrtorchis praetermissa subsp. Zuluensis

    3 4 8 9 10 11  12   
 

43

Diaphananthe fragrantissima

    1 8 9 10  11  12   
 

44

Diaphananthe millarii

      4 8 9 10 11 12   
 

45

Didymoplexis verrucosa

    1 2 10 11 12  
 

46 

Disa aconitoides

    1 2 10  11  12   
 

47 

Disa baurii 

    2 3 4     10 11  12   
 

48 

Disa brevicornis 

    3   10  11 12  
 

49 

Disa caffra

    1 2 9 10  11  12  
 

50 

Disa cephalotes subsp. Cephalotes

    3 10 11 12  
 

51 

Disa chrysostachya 

    10 11  12   
 

52 

Disa cooperi 

    10 11 12  
 

53

Disa cornuta

    3   10  11 12  
 

54

Disa crassicornis  

    10  11 12  
 

55

Disa dracomontana

    3 10 11 12  
 

56

Disa fragrans 

    9 10 11  12   
 

57

Disa nervosa 

    9 10 11 12  
 

58

Disa oreophila subsp. oreophila

    3 10 11 12   
 

59

Disa patula transvaalensis 

    2 3 9 10 11 12  
 

60

Disa patula var patula

    2 10 11  12  
 

61

Disa perplexa

    2 10 11 12  
 

62

Disa polygonoides

    10 11  12   
 

63

Disa pulchra

    1 2 3 4 10  11  12   
 

64

Disa rhodantha

    10 11  12   
 

65

Disa sankeyi

    1 10  11  12  
 

66

Disa saxicola 

    2 10 11 12   
 

67

Disa scullyi

    2 9 10 11  12  
 

68

Disa similis

    1 10 11 12   
 

69

Disa stachyoides 

    4   5   10  11  12   
 

70

Disa stricta

    2 10  11 12  
 

71

Disa tysonii

    2 3 10  11  12  
 

72

Disa versicolor 

 

 

10  11  12  
 

73

Disa woodii 

    1 2 10 11  12  
 

74

Disa zuluensis

    2 3 10 11 12  
 

75

Disperis anthoceras 

    1 10  11 12  
 

76

Disperis cardiophora

    9 10 11 12  
 

77

Disperis concinna 

    10  11 12  
 

78

Disperis cooperi 

    1 10  11 12  
 

79

Disperis dissiformis

    1 2   10  11 12   
 

80

Disperis fanniniae 

    10  11  12  
 

81

Disperis johnstonii

    1 2 10 11 12   
 

82

Disperis lindleyana 

    2 8 9 10  11  12  
 

83

Disperis macowanii

    4 5 6 10 11 12   
 

84

Disperis micrantha

    1 10 11 12   
 

85

Disperis oxyglossa  

    10  11 12  
 

86

Disperis renibractea

    10 11 12  
 

87

Disperis stenoplectron

    10  11 12  
 

88

Disperis thorncroftii   

    1 2 10  11 12   
 

89

Disperis tysonii

    10  11 12  
 

90

Disperis wealei 

    10  11   12  
 

91

Disperis woodii

    1 2   10  11  12   
 

92

Eulophia angolensis

    8 9 10  11  12  
 

93

Eulophia calanthoides

    9 10 11 12   
 

94

Eulophia callichroma

    1 2   10  11 12  
 

95

Eulophia clitellifera 

    1 2 10  11 12  
 

96

Eulophia coelogossa

    1 2 10  11  12   
 

97

Eulophia cooperi 

    1 2 10 11 12  
 

98

Eulophia cuculata

    1 2 10  11  12   
 

99

Eulophia hereroensis

    1 2 7 8   10  11 12   
 

100

Eulophia hians var  inaequalis

      10 11 12  
 

101

Eulophia hians var hians

    5 10  11  12   
 

102

Eulophia hians var nutans

        3 4 5 6 10  11 12  
 

103

Eulophia horsfallii

    6 7 8 10  11  12  
 

104

Eulophia leachii

    6 7 9 10 11 12  
 

105

Eulophia longisepela

    1 3 10 11  12  
 

106

Eulophia meleagris

    10  11 12  
 

107

Eulophia ovalis var ovalis

    10  11 12  
 

108

Eulophia parviflora  long spurred form

    1 2 3   10  11 12   
 

109

Eulophia parviflora short spurred variety

    2 3 4 10  11  12   
 

110

Eulophia parvilabris

  9 10 11 12  
 

111 

Eulophia petersii

  9 10 11  12  
 

112 

Eulophia speciosa

    9 10  11 12  
 

113 

Eulophia streptopetala 

    2 3 4 10 11 12  
 

114 

Eulophia tenella

      10 11 12   
 

115 

Eulophia zeyheriana

        3 4 10  11  12   
 

116 

Habenaria anguiceps

    3 4 8 9 10 11 12  
 

117 

Habenaria arenaria

    1 8 9 10 11 12  
 

118 

Habenaria clavata

    10 11 12   
 

119 

Habenaria cornuta

    7 8 9 10 11 12  
 

120 

Habenaria culveri

    9 10 11  12  
 

121

Habenaria dives

    8 9 10 11 12  
 

122 

Habenaria dregeana 

    9 10 11 12  
 

123 

Habenaria epipactidea

      9 10 11 12  
 

124 

Habenaria falcicornis caffra

      5 6 8 9 10 11 12   
 

125 

Habenaria falcicornis falcicornis

    8 9 10 11 12  
 

126 

Habenaria filicornis 

    5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  
 

127 

Habenaria humilior

    10  11 12  
 

128 

Habenaria kraenzliniana

    10 11 12
 
 

129 

Habenaria laevigata

    4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12   
 

130

Habenaria lithophila 

    9 10 11 12   
 

131

Habenaria malacophylla

    10  11 12  
 

132

Habenaria nyikana  

    1
9 10 11 12  
 

133

Habenaria petitiana

    1 9 10 11 12  
 

134

Habenaria pseudociliosa 

    10 11  12  
 

135

Habenaria schimperiana 

    8 9 10 11  12   
 

136

Habenaria transvaalensis

    3 4 9 10 11  12   
 

137

Habenaria tridens  

    4 9 10 11  12   
 

138

Habenaria trilobulata

    1 9 10 11  12  
 

139

Habenaria tysonii

    3 4 8 9 10 11  12   
 

140

Habenaria woodii

    2 8 9 10 11  12   
 

141

Holothrix incurva     8 9 10  11  12  
 

142

Holothrix majubensis

    3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11  12   
 

143

Holothrix orthoceras

    10  11  12  
 

144

Holothrix parviflora

    1 2 3 4 5       10 11  12   
 

145

Holothrix scopularia

    2 10  11  12  
 

146 

Holothrix thodei

    8 9 10 11  12   
 

147 

Huttonaea fimbriata

    4 10  11 12  
 

148 

Huttonaea oreophila   

    1 8 9 10 11  12   
 

149 

Huttonaea woodii 

    8 9 10 11 12  
 

150 

Huttonea pulchra

    10 11 12   
 

151 

Jumellea walleri

    1 10 11 12  
 

152 

Liparis bowkeri

 *   9 10 11 12   
 

153

Liparis remota

    10 11  12   
 

154

Margelliantha caffra

    2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12  
 

155

Microcoelia aphylla

    1 2 3 10  11  12  
 

156

Microcoelia exilis

    1 10  11  12  
 

157

Microcoelia obovata

    1 2 3 10 11  12  
 

158

Mystacidium aliceae

    6 7 8 9 10 11 12  
 

159

Mystacidium capense

    2 3 10  11  12  
 

160

Mystacidium flanaganii

    2 8 9 10 11 12  
 

161

Mystacidium gracile

    1 2      10  11 12  
 

162

Mystacidium pusillum

    1 2 3 10 11 12  
 

163

Mystacidium venosum

    1 2 3 10  11  12   
 

164

Neobolusia tysonii

    10 11  12  
 

165

Nervilia bicarinata

    1 2 3 9 10  11  12  
 

166

Oeceoclades decaryana

    1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11  12  
 

167

Oeceoclades lonchophylla

      10 11 12  
 

168

Oeceoclades maculata

    10 11 12  
 

169

Orthochilus aculeatus subsp. Huttonii

    2 6 7 8 9 10  11 12  
 

170

Orthochilus adenoglossus

    2 10 11 12   
 

171

Orthochilus ensatus white form

    1 2      10 11  12   
 

172

Orthochilus ensatus yellow form

    2 4 5 6 7 10  11  12  
 

173

Orthochilus foliosus

    2 3 10 11  12   
 

174

Orthochilus leontoglossus

    2 3   10  11  12  
 

175

Orthochilus milnei

    2 10  11  12   
 

176

Orthochilus odontoglossus

    10 11 12   
 

177

Orthochilus welwitschii

    2 8 9 10 11  12   
 

178

Platylepis glandulosa

    10 11 12  
 

179

Polystachya  cultriformis

    2 8 9 10  11 12  
 

180

Polystachya  modesta

    3 8 9 10 11 12  
 

181

Polystachya  sandersonii

    1 2 8 9 10  11  12   
 

182

Polystachya concreta 

    2 10 11 12   
 

183

Polystachya fusiformis

    2 9 10  11  12  
 

184

Polystachya ottoniana 

    1 2 10 11 12  
 

185

Polystachya pubescens 

    1 2   10  11 12  
 

186

Polystachya transvaalensis

    10 11 12  
 

187

Polystachya zuluensis

    1 2 9 10  11  12   
 

188

Pterygodium cooperi

    8 9 10  11  12   
 

189

Pterygodium hastatum

    8 9 10 11  12  
 

190

Pterygodium leucanthum

    9 10 11  12   
 

191

Pterygodium magnum 

    8   9 10 11  12   
 

192

Rangaeris muscicola

    2 9 10 11 12  
 

193

Rhipidoglossum zanthopollinium

    10 11 12  
 

194

Satyrium bracteatum 

    1 2   10  11 12  
 

195

Satyrium cristatum cristatum

    9 10 11 12  
 

196

Satyrium cristatum longilabiatum

    9 10 11 12   
 

197

Satyrium hallackii ocellatum

    9 10 11 12  
 

198

Satyrium ligulatum

    2 8 9 10  11 12  
 

199

Satyrium longicauda 

    9 10  11 12  
 

200

Satyrium macrophyllum

    1 8 9 10 11  12   
 

201

Satyrium microrrhynchum

    10  11  12  
 

202

Satyrium neglectum subsp neglectum

    10  11  12   
 

203

Satyrium neglectum subsp woodii

    1 2 10 11  12   
 

204

Satyrium parviflorum

      10  11  12  
 

205

Satyrium rhodanthum

    1 2 9 10 11 12  
 

206

Satyrium sphaerocarpum

    9   10  11  12  
 

207

Satyrium trinerve

    9 10  11  12   
 

208

Schizochilus angustifolius

    9 10 11  12   
 

209

Schizochilus bulbinella

    9 10 11 12   
 

210

Schizochilus flexuosus 

    8 9 10  11  12   
 

211

Schizochilus gerrardii

    2 8 9 10 11  12  
 

212

Schizochilus zeyheri 

    10 11 12  
 

213

Stenoglottis fimbriata

    9 10 11  12   
 

214

Stenoglottis longifolia

    1 9 10 11 12  
 

215

Stenoglottis woodii

    9 10 11 12  
 

216

Stenoglottis zambesiaca

    1 8 9 10  11  12   
 

217

Tridactyle bicaudata subsp bicaudata

    9 10  11 12  
 

218

Tridactyle bicaudata subsp rupestris

    10  11  12  
 

219

Tridactyle gentilii

    1 10 11 12  
 

220

Tridactyle tricuspis

    1 10  11 12  
 

221

Tridactyle tridentata

    1 2 3 10  11  12  
 

222

Vanilla roscheri

    10 11 12  
 

223

Ypsilopus erectus

    1 2 9 10 11 12  
 

224

Zeuxine africana

    1 2 9 10 11 12  
                                   

* This species has in the past been recorded as present in KwaZulu Natal, but is so rare that it has not been found recently,

or could be extinct by now due mainly to the urbanisation creep.

 

               

 

 

Red list of KwaZulu Natal Endangered Orchids

 

Orange list of KwaZulu Natal Threatened Orchids

 

SANBI Threatened Orchids

SANBI threatened Orchid list 

 

Information about KwaZulu Natal Legislation

KwaZulu Natal Legislation 

 

Credits 

The flowering times and occurrence of orchids within KZN were obtained from Orchids of South Africa: A Field Guide – September 11, 2015
by Benny Bytebier and Steve Johnson

For more information regarding the preservation of South Africa's wild Orchids or if you would like to get involved please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete this short form Contact Us and we will contact you.