This Orchid Variety Looks Just Like a Monkey's Face

The name says it all: The monkey orchid is a downright cute flower. Many orchids are beautiful, elegant flowers, but the monkey orchid is highly unique due to its petal shape and structure, which gives it a very distinct appearance.

What Is a Monkey Orchid?

Native to the tropical highland forests of Southeastern Ecuador, the Dracula simia—which translates to "little dragon monkey"—is an orchid that thrives at altitudes around 2,000 meters. You'll need to take a hike to see these quirky plants in their natural environment, though you can grow them at home.

There are more than 110 varieties within the Dracula genus—Dracula amaliae and Dracula gigas being two of our other favorites—each a different color and shape, but all with that same monkey face.

Monkey orchids can take a long time to flower, though—nearly seven years, so you'll have to be patient if you grow these at home. But once they begin flowering, they flower for quite some time—up to two decades if properly cared for.

Why Do They Look Like Monkeys?

You'll notice these unique flowers look just like little monkey faces, but how? The long faces are formed by a handful of long petals. While the center of the flower may be a dead ringer for our ancestral cousins, the name is actually a shout-out to the two long sepals (the part of a flower that encloses the developing bud) located at the base of the petals.

What Monkey Orchids Smell Like

Even better than its name or appearance might be the monkey orchid's pleasant fragrance. When this particular species of orchid blooms, it gives off a scent of ripe oranges. The best part? They can bloom during any season, at any time.