Botanical species considered as the "Chinese cymbidium," alongside Cymbidium sinense and Cymbidium kanran makino, Cymbidium ensifolium stands out for its compact habit, smaller size compared to other Cymbidium species, fragrant, delicate, medium-sized flowers, successive and frequent blooming, and high tolerance to high temperatures, aspects that strongly recommend it for indoor cultivation.
The best-known synonyms for this species are Epidendrum ensifolium L. (1753) and Jensoa ensata Raf. (1838), but the complete list indicates the numerous systematic revisions to which this species has been subjected: Cymbidium albomarginatum Makino 1912; Cymbidium arrogans Hayata 1914; Cymbidium ensifolium f. arcuatum T.C.Yen 1964; Cymbidium ensifolium f. falcatum T.C.Yen 1964; Cymbidium ensifolium f. flaccidior Makino in Y.Iinuma 1912; Cymbidium ensifolium subsp. acuminatum (M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones) P.J.Cribb & Du Puy 2007; Cymbidium ensifolium var. misericors (Hayata) T.P.Lin 1977; Cymbidium ensifolium var. rubrigemmum (Hayata) T.S.Liu & H.J.Su 1978; Cymbidium ensifolium var. striatum Lindl. 1837; Cymbidium ensifolium var. susin T.C.Yen 1964; Cymbidium ensifolium var. xiphiifolium (Lindl.) S.S.Ying 1990; Cymbidium ensifolium var. yakibaran (Makino) Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1980; Cymbidium gonzalesii Quisumb. 1940; Cymbidium gyokuchin Makar. 1912; Cymbidium gyokuchin var. arrogans (Hayata) S.S.Ying 1977; Cymbidium gyokuchin var. soshin Makino 1912; Cymbidium kanran var. misericors (Hayata) S.S.Ying 1977; Cymbidium koran Makino 1912; Cymbidium micans Schau. 1843; Cymbidium misericors Hayata 1914; Cymbidium misericors var. oreophilum Hayata 1914; Cymbidium niveomarginatum Makino 1912; Cymbidium prompovenium Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998; Cymbidium rubrigemmum Hayata 1916; Cymbidium shimaran Makino 1912; Cymbidium xiphiifolium Lindl. 1821; Cymbidium yakibaran Makino, Iiinuma 1912; Cymbidium yongfuense Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998; *Epidendrum ensifolium L. 1753; Jensoa ensata Raf. 1836; Limodorum ensatum Thunb. 1784
At least two species with natural occurrence are known, namely ssp. ensifolium and ssp. haematodes.
Having a medium size, with thick, tough leaves, it will bloom from the beginning of summer until the end, in several stages, usually 3, but cases of blooming during autumn or winter are frequently known. Both Cymbidium ensifolium and Cymbidium sinense often present variegated forms, the most common showing a bilateral golden marginal band on the leaf blade, or longitudinal discoloration zones corresponding to the venation pattern.
The cultivation of this Cymbidium species is lost in the mists of time, being considered one of the longest cultivated orchid species, with the first mentions contemporary to Confucius, around 500 BC. Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1753 in the monumental work Species Plantarum. Currently, cultivators of oriental species, both from China and Japan, prefer these species and their commercial varieties, having a long tradition in growing and reproducing them, while Western cultivators have only recently begun to introduce the group of Chinese cymbidiums into their permanent offerings.
Initially included in the subgenus Jensoa, alongside Cymb sinense, Cym. faberi, Cym. goeringii and other similar species, ensifolium represents one of the genera with the widest distribution and greatest variability, found in Indochina, China, Japan, Borneo, New Guinea, and the Philippines, at altitudes ranging between 500 and 1800 m. The species populates deciduous forests in humid areas, along watercourses, on calcareous substrates covered with moss, even occupying lithophilic stations. It is uncertain whether the natural distribution of the species includes Japan, with the hypothesis of its later acclimatization through cultivation being much more probable.
The general appearance of the plants suggests a medium to small size, with terrestrial or lithophilic growth, having numerous small pseudobulbs, completely wrapped in the basal sheaths of the leaves, in numbers of 3 – 4 per pseudobulb, presenting an imbricate pattern. The leaves have a linear appearance, being narrow, acute, sometimes variegated.
The flower size of Cymbidium ensifolium varies between 5 – 8 cm, being strongly spaced on the erect flower spike, up to 30 cm long, bearing 3 – 8 flowers with a persistence shorter than that of classic hybrids, but not less than 2 – 3 weeks. The floral coloration usually includes mixtures of reddish brown on a light green or yellowish green background, but frequent extreme color variations stand out, from compact reddish brown to uniform light green, except for the labellum colored in white, or even completely albino flowers. The relatively modest appearance of the flowers is fully compensated by the subtle and persistent fragrance, even strong compared to common cymbidium hybrids. The flowering period is generally confined to the summer season, a characteristic shared with most of its hybrids, but autumn, winter, and even early spring bloomings are frequently mentioned.
The preference for this species has led to its inclusion as a parent species in many successful hybrids, some of which have even been awarded, including Cymbidium Super Baby (x Babylon), Cymbidium Chocolate Soldier (x Volcano) and Cymbidium Tender Love (x parishii), as direct descendant progenitors, or even complex hybrids, such as Cymbidium Golden Elf (x Enid Haupt) 'Sundust' HCC/AOS and its tetraploid (4n) variant, Cymbidium Korintji (x Rangoon), Cymbidium Giselle (x madidum), where the ‘Ballerina’ clone stands out, awarded by AOS with the HCC mention.
In terms of growth conditions, Cymbidium ensifolium will prefer locations with 90 – 95% shading and temperatures of 23 – 30 ℃, but can tolerate higher temperatures if proper ventilation is provided. Night temperatures from summer months until late autumn (August - October) should be at least 10 – 15 ℃ to ensure flowering initiation. Optimal winter temperatures should ideally be between 7 - 12 ℃ at night and 18 – 23 ℃ during the day. Most Chinese cymbidium species can survive light frosts, but such situations are recommended to be avoided.
Strong ventilation is one of the key elements in the cultivation of cymbidium species, of which ensifolium is no exception; poor ventilation quality can lead to fungal and bacterial diseases, especially botrytis, which will affect the flowers, causing their abortion.
Growth humidity is recommended to be maintained at 40 – 60% during winter, and at as high values as possible during the rest of the time, especially in summer.
Irrigations will be carried out frequently, approximately every 3 days, even every two days in dry climate areas. Plants will be kept constantly moist, but without allowing water stagnation.
Mixed growing media with good drainage and small granulation will be preferred, allowing rapid drying of the substrate after watering, such as coconut fiber compost with sphagnum moss, small-sized pine bark (3 – 9 mm), and perlite.
Fertilizations will be applied every 2 weeks, using a fertilizer with lower nitrogen and phosphorus values, with an ideal formula of 15 – 15 – 30, with the possibility to increase phosphorus input values during the summer period.
Changing pots and the growing medium will be done every 2 years, when dividing the clumps will also be done, keeping groups of at least 3 bulbs.
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