Corkscrew "Super" Ghost Orchid

Discovered in July 2007, the Corkscrew "Super" Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) has been in the spotlight each summer since as it continues to produce many flowers year after year.  This orchid has drawn attention from around the world as it is the largest ghost orchid discovered so far.  Our Ghost Orchid has delighted us every year since its discovery with multiple blooms throughout the summer and even a few in other times of the year (see the timeline of bloom events below).  In 2014, it produced over 40 flowers throughout the year!  

While Ghost Orchids typically bloom in June and July, during 2015 our "Super" Ghost Orchid's earliest blooms were spotted on Jan. 25, 2015 setting a new early-blooming record (the earliest in the year it had bloomed previously was late March of 2010).  In 2017:  our Ghost Orchid was blooming again in November and early December, the latest in the year we have seen it bloom so far!  The last flower for 2017 dropped off on Dec. 8.  It has now bloomed every month of the year!  Barring any interference, once a Ghost Orchid bud opens into a flower it usually stays in bloom for about 1.5 to 2 weeks, yellowing toward the end of the bloom, and eventually shrivelling. 

The Sanctuary is currently closed to protect our staff, volunteers and the public during the Covid-19 crisis.  But when we are able to reopen, if you plan to visit Corkscrew to see the "Super" Ghost Orchid, plan to bring binoculars since it is about 50 feet high in an old growth bald cypress tree and about 100 feet away from the boardwalk. To get there on the boardwalk, you will have to walk just under one mile past the short cut trail on the main boardwalk loop (toward the observation tower). The "Super" Ghost Orchid is located on the left, just past the John Muir Landmark Tree (No. 2). There is a sign on the rail to help you locate the orchid. When the orchid is budding or blooming, and if weather conditions allow, Corkscrew's Boardwalk Naturalists will have a spotting scope out to allow visitors a close-up look at the "Super" Ghost Orchid.  We will not be able to provide a spotting scope this year due to covid-19 concerns.  Please see this orchid's activity history below.

It was in bloom for 93 consecutive days in 2019, from June 27 through September 27.

Read our 2020 press release. 

Click here to read about the scientific discovery involving the pollination of the "Super" Ghost Orchid. This publication was one of the most downloaded scientific papers in 2019. Learn about "Ecology's Top 100" here.

Here's a link to July 2, 2019 WINK News report on the "Super" Ghost Orchid by reporter Stephanie Byrne.

2020 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2019 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2018 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2017 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2016 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2015 Super Ghost Orchid Activity

2014 Super Ghost Orchid Activity 

Downloadable Resources

2020_super_ghost_orchid_activity.pdf 2019_super_ghost_orchid_activity.pdf 2018_super_ghost_activity.pdf 2017_super_ghost_activity.pdf 2016_super_ghost_orchid_activity.pdf 2015_super_ghost_orchid_activity.pdf 2014_super_ghost_orchid_activity.pdf