Species that is the basis of numerous hybrids and horticultural varieties, Dendrobium bigibbum is, together with Dendrobium nobile, the most popular taxon in the horticultural trade, both as potted plants and as cut flowers. It comes from the tropical area of ​​Australia (North Queensland) and New Guinea.

The species grows on trees and rocks in tropical jungles, in coastal scrub, near rivers and swamps, as well as in open tropical forests in Queensland, Australia, southern New Guinea and on a single island in Indonesia.

From a taxonomic point of view, the species was initially described by the renowned botanist John Lindley, being published in the periodical Paxton's Flower Garden.

There are currently four varieties recognized by the World List of Plant Families, as follows:

• Dendrobium bigibbum var. bigibbum , which shows a central white area on the labellum, and lives at low altitudes on the Cape York peninsula, some of the Torres Strait Islands and southern New Guinea;
• Dendrobium bigibbum var. compactum , (CTWhite), Peter B.Adams, lithophilic variety with restricted distribution, at altitudes of 250 m, in tropical humid areas;
• Dendrobium bigibbum var. schoederianum (Rchb.f. ex W.Watson) which shows color variability and only inhabits the Larat islands in the Tanimbar island group;
• Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum , Rchb.f. which has the largest flowers of all the varieties of Dendrobium biggibum, but which lack the white central spot on the labellum and which populates the area between Cooktown and Mount Molloy.

Dendrobium biggibum is the floral emblem of the Australian state of Queensland. As a conservation and protection status, Dendrobium biggibum is listed as a vulnerable species in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 issued by the Australian Government. The main threats identified for this species are considered human settlements and pressures from visitors, such as fire in undeveloped places and illegal collection.

Known synonyms for this species are: Callista bigibba, Callista phalaenopsis, Callista sumneri, Dendrobium bigibbum f. compactum, Dendrobium bigibbum f. phalaenopsis, Dendrobium bigibbum f. superbium, Dendrobium bigibbum subvar candidum, Dendrobium bigibbum subvar. compactum, Dendrobium bigibbum subvar. superbum, Dendrobium bigibbum var. albopurpuratum, Dendrobium bigibbum var. album, Dendrobium bigibbum var candidum, Dendrobium bigibbum var. macranthum, Dendrobium bigibbum var. phalaenopsis, Dendrobium bigibbum var sumneri, Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum, Dendrobium lithocola, Dendrobium phalaenopsis, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. albopurpureum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. album, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. album, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. chamberlainianum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. compactum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. dellense, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. highburyense, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. hololeuca, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. lindeniae, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. rothschildianum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. rubescens, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroderianum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroederianum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. splendens, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. statterianum, Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. thundersleyense, Dendrobium sumneri, Vappodes bigibba, Vappodes lithocola, Vappodes phalaenopsis.

Epiphytic or lithophilic species, with green or sometimes purple pseudobulbs, with lengths that can vary from 20 to 120 cm and 1.5 - 2 cm thick, often with purple growths. Each pseudobulb has between 3 and 5 ovoid leaves, 10-15 cm long and 3-3.5 cm wide. The arched floral stems, 20-40 cm long, bear between 2 and 20 flowers, generally lilac-purple in color, rarely blue or pink. The resupinate flowers, approximately 2-3 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, whose sizes vary depending on the variety, have oblong to ovoid sepals, 2-3 cm long and 0.9-1.1 cm wide. The dorsal sepal is erect or curved posteriorly, and the lateral ones are positioned opposite. The petals have an ovoid shape, with approximately equal length and width, varying between 2.5 - 30 cm, and the labellum, with a length of 2 - 2.6 cm and a width of 2 - 2.8 cm, is trilobed. The side lobes are erect, and the central one has 4-5 ridges arranged longitudinally, as well as a hairy area in the central position. The flowering of the species takes place from February to July, but the horticultural hybrids can bloom profusely in any season, several times a year, depending on the environmental conditions.

This species survives in areas with poor light during the winter, but this aspect leads to aborted buds and underdeveloped flower stems.

From the point of view of light radiation , Dendrobium biggibum prefers levels of 30,000 - 45,000 lux, with more intense light during the winter. The increased values ​​of light variation and good ventilation are decisive aspects in the successful cultivation of this species. In the short term (up to a few weeks), the plant resists very well in conditions of very low light radiation.

Plants are heat-loving, preferring 29-30 ℃ during the day and 20-22 ℃ during the night, for the summer period, and 24-26 ℃ during the day with 17-19 ℃ at night, during the winter period. Bigibbum can thus be grown successfully in the yard, during the warm season, ensuring a humidity of 60-80% correlated with the ambient temperature.

Although this orchid can be easily grown mounted on wooden boards, cork or bark, the high preferences for humidity, especially during the warm season, indicate that the culture should be preferred in perforated pots with efficient drainage, on a substrate represented by the bark of small/medium grain pine, or specific mixtures. If you opt for mounting on plates, it is recommended to use a sphagnum "lump" in the root zone, for better moisture retention. The replanting will be done during the rest period, towards the end of winter - the beginning of spring.

Irrigations will be generous in the warm season, but in winter they will be reduced. Dendrobium bigibbum tolerates the short-term lack of humidity very well, which allows the plants to be transported safely over long distances.

Fertilization can be carried out weekly at concentrations of 25% - 50% compared to the values ​​indicated by the manufacturer on the package, a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen intake being preferred for the growth period, from the beginning until almost the end of summer, and with a fertilizer rich in phosphorus from late summer to autumn.

The resting period actually represents only a reduction in watering for a few weeks , after the flowering period. The substrate will be allowed to dry completely between waterings, but it is recommended to spray the leaves with water and maintain a high atmospheric humidity.

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