Orchids are among the most admired plants in the world due to their elegant and beautiful shapes, and also because of the fragrance and the colors they produce.
Orchids belong to the famous Orchidaceae family. These plants grow in both east and west tropical and subtropical zones of Ecuador, and only a very few of them choose to grow in mild or cold zones.
The great majority of orchids live on trees, as epiphytes, where they can comfortably receive heat, light and moist tropical air; others prefer rocks semi covered with moss, and other orchids choose to stay at ground level, as they grow under a big tree’s shade.
When orchids bloom, they offer an amazing show as they take butterfly-like shapes.

This plant species is the largest in the world. Out of each 10 species of plants, 1 is an orchid. here in Ecuador, one out of every 4 plants is an orchid! Ecuador has some 4200 species of orchids. The world has something between 30.000 and 35.000 species. About 800 new species of orchids are said to be discovered every year!!

Following are 14 of the species found in Bellavista: