cymbidium
Orchid books
Book: AOS Guide to Orchids and their Culture
Book: AOS Guide to Orchids and their Culture
By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2018. Filled with the combined knowledge of two renowned growers/authors/travelers and Ron's legendary photographs. This book has something for beginning hobbyists and advanced growers alike.

Encouraging to beginners there are sections about orchid culture, pests, shopping tips, and name tags. The recommendations on different orchid species for home and garden use is a benefit to orchid growers across all levels of experience. This book has a wealth of inspiring, real-life examples from nine serious hobbyists with diverse, inventive growing areas!

Soft-bound with 246 pages. Signed by our 2019 Summer Open House Guest Author Mary Gerritsen. 2018.


Orchid of the Day: December 26, 2024
starting at
$25.00
Book: Diamonds and Disas
Book: Diamonds and Disas
By Harold Koopowitz.  2016.  A novel.  Emeritus UCI botanist Dr. Harold Koopowitz transplants his “Orchid Tales” characters from the genre of genteel historical fiction to that of modern action and adventure.  Facing a variety of perils, familiar friends and newcomers race across the South African countryside in search of a new species of Disa.   The fascinating plants, animals, and rocks of Namaqualand are interwoven into the story.   Paperback with 319 pages.   All book proceeds will be donated to the Orchid Digest Publication Fund.

We are so honored that Harold will be the guest author at our 2016 SBOE Summer Open House, July 8-10th. Harold will speak on South African orchids and other plants at 7:30 pm Friday July 8, 2016 at a joint meeting of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Cymbidium Society, in Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 909 North La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara.

Signed books will be shipped after Summer Open House (week of July 11). 
Orchid of the Day: June 23, 2016
starting at
$20.00
Book: Discovering New World Orchids Book
Book: Discovering New World Orchids Book
By Steve Manning. Steve was the guest author at our 2011 SBOE International Orchid Fair, where he charmed us all with his knowledge of orchids and orchid history, plus his quintessentially British turn of phrase (for example people familiar with Santa Barbara locales will like his apocryphal "Earl of Warren"). As do all good authors, he still lives on within the pages of his book. Steve reminds us there is so much more to discover about orchids beyond the buy button.

Take a glimpse back in time at the early days of orchid discovery, collection, commerce, and botanical description, with a strong emphasis on Central and South America and moderate focus on Masdevallias and their near relatives. The stories behind the routes taken by early orchids and their cultivators makes for fascinating reading!

Many first-hand accounts, famous color prints and documents, plus lively text fill the pages arranged in 25 chapters. Including insight into the people behind the name, like the open pages shown above featuring Nathaniel Ward and his introduction of "The Wardian Case", as well as a section on Cattleya loddigesii.

Steve’s family has given us permission to reduce the book's price to make it more accessible for more people to enjoy his well-researched and thouroughly delightful work.

Signed and unsigned copies available. 2010. Hardcover. 669 pages. Index of Illustrations. Index.
Orchid of the Day: December 22, 2024
starting at
$48.00
Book: El Rancho Rinconada - Orchid Town
Book: El Rancho Rinconada - Orchid Town
By Louis M. Boyle. 1946. A genuine artifact. Never circulated. Travel back in time to orchid growing in the 1940’s at El Rancho Rinconada Nursery, Ojai, California. Originally published as a promotional and reference book, 70 years later it is a remarkable example of vintage orchid glamor and Western kitsch. The alphabetical list of early Cymbidium hybrids remains useful. The student of early Cymbidium hybridizing will find great interest in the extensive list of unnamed Cymbidium crosses, many of which were never registered, thus providing a broader view of 1940’s Cymbidium hybridizing than the data in the International Orchid Register.
Orchid of the Day: July 30, 2016
starting at
$20.00
Book: From the Hand of God to the Miracles of Orchids
Book: From the Hand of God to the Miracles of Orchids
By AOS past president Milton Carpenter. 2012. Part autobiography, part highlights of Everglades Orchids breeding program, part vignettes of orchid friends and others. This engaging 217-page hardbound book contains over 170 beautiful photographs, most of them color, including over 100 images of orchids.
One hardcover book, one Christian music CD, one orchid story DVD. Signed by the author.
Orchid of the Day: June 30, 2016
starting at
$39.95
Book: Of Men and Orchids - Part 1
Book: Of Men and Orchids - Part 1
By Rudolf Jenny. 2015. Each of the 21 chapters presents a fascinating glimpse into orchid history, which is richly brought to life with may historical images and modern photos. 302 pages. We here at SBOE can mail prospective buyers an example copy of the 2-page table of contents. Books can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.
Orchid of the Day: July 9, 2016
starting at
$150.00
Book: Slipper Orchids of Borneo , Second Edition
Book: Slipper Orchids of Borneo , Second Edition
By Phillip Cribb. 2014. Building strongly on the first edition, this second edition includes : five additional Phaphiopedillum species and varieties ( inamorii, ooii, rothschildianum var. elliottianum, platyphyllum, and sugiyamamum ), an expanded general discussion of Phaphiopedillum classificarion, a new historical section with biographies of plant collectors and botanists in Borneo, and many new photos and drawings throughout the book. Soft-bound with 160 pages. Signed by the author.
Books can only be shipped to US addresses. For shipping to other countries, order directly from the publisher in Borneo at www.nhpborneo.com
Orchid of the Day: July 5, 2016
starting at
$33.00
Book: The Book of Orchids
Book: The Book of Orchids
The Book of Orchids: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred
Species from around the World
By Mark Chase, Maarten Christenhusz, and Tom Mirenda. 2017.

This handsome and informative 'coffee-table'-style book provides a glimpse of wonderfully obscure orchids that most of us might otherwise never see! Beginning with Tom Mirenda's sublime preface, the first 24 pages outline the family of orchids, one of the world's most diverse. Then follow the single-page spotlights featuring a different orchid on each page; in all, 600 entries that include actual-size photographs and geographic distribution.

Each species spotlight gives an overview relaying varying details particular to that orchid, such as cultivation and ethnobotany, fragrance, pollinators, and even scientific significance where applicable. A great feature: the orchids are organized taxonomically so that related orchids are presented together, allowing the reader to appreciate the ingenuity and diversity of orchids.

We are so honored that Tom Mirenda, who has also been a frequent contributor to the American Orchid Society magazine, participated as the Guest Author for this book at our 2017 SBOE Summer Open House!
Hardcover book with 656 pages.

Orchid of the Day: July 8, 2022
starting at
$55.00
Book: The Genus Calanthe
Book: The Genus Calanthe
By Dudley Clayton and Phillip Cribb. 2013. A definitive compilation of the 207 species of this lovely pan-tropical "genus". Includes surprising DNA results in the phylogeny chapter by Professor Tomohisa Yukawa. This 411 page, hardbound book contains 92 drawings, 11 color paintings, 273 color photographs, a key, and biographical notes. Signed by Cribb.
Books can only be shipped to US addresses. For shipping to other countries, order directly from the publisher in Borneo at www.nhpborneo.com
Orchid of the Day: July 6, 2016
starting at
$82.00
Book: The Genus Cymbidium
Book: The Genus Cymbidium
By David Du Puy and Phillip Cribb. 2007. Indispensable volume for Cymbidium enthusiasts and breeders alike. This revised edition includes many more habitat photographs, updated taxonomy (including the results from recent DNA studies), distribution maps, and at least eight new species! Hardcover with 369 pages. Signed by Cribb.
Orchid of the Day: February 7, 2021
starting at
$109.00
Book: The Paphiopedilum Growers Manual , Second Edition, Revised
Book: The Paphiopedilum Growers Manual , Second Edition, Revised
By Lance Birk. 2004. When we need to know about a Paphiopedilum, we usually start with Lance’s book. 93 species are described and pictured in a useful, succinct, uniform format. One especially helpful feature is the "Index to the Species List" is on page 138 (a provided red ribbon is useful for marking this important page). Then follows Lance’s non-traditional wisdom on most aspects of Paph. culture, plus advice of being in the field, and his thoughts about orchid conservation.

Hardcover with 284 pages. 2004.


Orchid of the Day: January 20, 2025
starting at
$40.00
Book: The Paphiopedilum Grower’s Manual, Second Edition,
By Lance Birk. 2004. When we need to know about a Paph, we usually start with Lance’s book. 93 species are described and pictured in a useful, succinct, uniform format. It will be helpful for purchasers to know that the Index to the Species List is on page 138 (a provided red ribbon is useful for marking this important page). Then follows Lance’s non-traditional wisdom on most aspects of Paph culture, plus advice of being in the field and his thoughts about orchid conservation.
Hardcover with 284 pages. 2004.


starting at
$40.00
Book: Wild Orchids of California
Book: Wild Orchids of California
By Ronald Coleman. 2002.
A beautiful, useful, and informative field guide for both armchair and backcountry orchid lovers! One particularly exciting feature of this book is that it contains some amazing photos of in-situ wild orchids in bloom.

There is something thrilling about seeing a genuine wild orchid in nature in our own home state of California, especially when you consider that most are seasonally deciduous and regionally specific!

Describes 32 species in 11 genera, and includes tables of county counts, with 40 pages of color plates. 201 pages of text. Softcover.
Orchid of the Day: July 23, 2022
starting at
$45.00

SBOE@SBORCHID.COM ~ (800) 553-3387
1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 ~ (805) 967-1284 ~ FAX: (805) 683-3405

© 2025 Santa Barbara Orchid Estate
All images and text herein these pages are copyright protected. Personal use of them and links to our page are permitted, but none should be reproduced in other websites or in any other forms of publication without our permission.

NOTE ON PICTURES:
Although we try to represent the flower color as accurately as possible, due the inconsistant nature of computer monitors, and the various difficulties of digital photography, the colors represented on our website are not always exact. Please consider these pictures approximations, and give us a call if you would like a verbal description of the flower.

Orchid Search:
all or part of the name

and/or description

Select a Genus:
Ada
Aeranthes
Aerides
Angraecum
Ansellia
Arpophylum
Aspasia
Barkeria
Beallara
Bletilla
Book
Brassanthe
Brassavola
Brassia
Brassidium
Brassocattleya
Brassolaelia
Brassolaeliocattleya
Broughtonia
Bulbophyllum
Burrageara
Calanthe
Campylocentrum
Cattleya
Cattleytonia
Cattlianthe
Catyclia
Cirrhaea
Cirrhopetalum
Cleisostoma
Cochleanthes
Cochlioda
Coelia
Coelogyne
Colmanara
Cuitlauzina
Cyclopogon
Cymbidium
Cyrtochilum
Cyrtorchis
Degarmoara
Dendrobium
Dendrochilum
Dialaelia
Dialaeliocattleya
Dichaea
Dockrillia
Doritaenopsis
Doritis
Dryadella
Encyclia
Epicatanthe
Epicattleya
Epidendrum
Epilaelia
Epipactis
Epiphronitis
Eria
Eulophia
Fall Open House
Felis
Fertilizer
Gomesa
Gongora
Guarianthe
Guaricatophila
Hamelwellsara
Helcia
Isochilus
Iwanagara
Jumellea
Kefersteinia
Laelia
Laeliocatanthe
Laeliocatonia
Laeliocattleya
Leochilus
Leptotes
Liparis
Lockhartia
Lycaste
Lyonara
Masdevallia
Maxillaria
Megaclinium
Miltassia
Miltoncidostele
Miltonia
Miltonidium
Mormolyca
Myoxanthus
Myrmecocattleya
Myrmecophila
Mystacidium
Nageliella
Neofinetia
Neopabstopetalum
Notylia
Odontioda
Odontocidium
Oerstedella
Oncidioda
Oncidium
Orchid Fair
Orchid Fair T Shirt
Ornithocephalus
Ornithophora
Osmoglossum
Otaara
Paphiopedilum
Pelatantheria
Pescatorea
Phaiocymbidium
Phaius
Phalaenopsis
Physosiphon
Platystele
Pleione
Pleurothallis
Polystachya
Potinara
Promenaea
Propabstopetalum
Prosthechea
Psychopsis
Psygmorchis
Rangaeris
Recchara
Renanetia
Renantanda
Renanthera
Restrepia
Restrepiella
Rhyncattleanthe
Rhyncholaelia
Rhyncholaeliocattleya
Rhynchostele
Rhynchostylis
Rodricidium
Rodriguezia
Rossioglossum
Sarcochilus
Sarconopsis
Scaphosepalum
Schoenorchis
Schombolaelia
Schomburgkia
Scuticaria
Sobralia
Sophrocattleya
Sophrolaelia
Sophrolaeliocattleya
Sophronitella
Specimen
Spiranthes
Spring Open house
Stanhopea
Stelis
Stenia
Stenoglottis
Stenorrhynchus
Summer Open House
Supplies
Tolumnia
Trichocentrum
Trichopilia
Trichosalpinx
Vanda
Vanilla
Vuylstekeara
Zygopabstia
Zygopetalum
Zygostates