Orchids IN FULL BLOOM

It’s easier than you think to enjoy beautiful orchids throughout the year.

by susan yogi, floral buyer

We are proud to partner with McLellan Botanicals/ Taisuco America to bring you stunning Phalaenopsis Orchids year round.

One of the largest orchid growers, and one that traces its roots back to the California Gold Rush in the 1850s, McLellan Botanicals’ original nursery was located on 38 acres in South San Francisco.

The growers were pioneers in breeding orchids that could be enjoyed in everyone’s home, not just in greenhouses or for the specialty collector. The South San Francisco nursery was open to the public for sales and tours of the greenhouses and helped introduce orchids to much of the Bay Area.

From the beginning, McLellan Orchids were known throughout the world. In 1947, the company sent orchids to be used in Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s wedding. Many generations of the McLellan family brought their passion for horticulture to the business.

From the late 1800s they grew roses and carnations, and then in the 1900s they introduced orchids to the world. In the 1940s and 1950s, orchid corsages were all the rage and helped introduce the Cattleya orchids to the U.S. They were also one of the largest growers of gardenia at that time. The nursery remained in South San Francisco until 2000 when it was acquired by parent company, Taiwan Sugar Corporation, Taisuco America, and moved to Aromas, California. The company is one of the leading producers of orchids in the world.

start your own orchid collection

McLellan Botanicals/Taisuco America also has facilities in Canada and Texas, ensuring fresh product for other parts of the country, and is known for their research and breeding programs with varieties that are innovative, superior in quality, and reliable. They use the most advanced floricultural technology to bring to market beautiful orchids that can be enjoyed in everyone’s home. The company is always introducing new flower shapes and colors that are beautiful and long-lasting. With so many colors and shapes to choose from, you can start your very own orchid collection today. You would be surprised to know that it takes over a year to grow an orchid that is ready to be sold in our Mollie Stone’s Floral Departments. We invite you to come by our Floral Department and see our beautiful assortment of orchids, ranging from 3 inches to grand 10-inch orchid gardens.

We suggest that you place your orchid near a bright window with plenty of natural light—but no direct sun—in a room with a temperature range of 65-80°F. Be careful not to overwater orchids and do not have them sit in water. The orchids can continue to bloom indefinitely. Many of the new varieties will continue to send out new flower buds after the initial buds have dropped.