The habitats of native orchids are almost as varied as the plants themselves. They can be found from coastal areas through to the alpine zone. Listed below are the most common orchid habitats.
Scrubland
This is a favoured habitat, particularly in open areas beneath manuka and kanuka.
Here it’s fairly easy to find a wide variety of sun orchids, various Caladenia, gnat orchids, the small forms of leek orchid, onion orchids, as well as certain species of greenhood and spider orchid.
Good examples of this environment can be found at Te Paki in the Far North, Albany Scenic Reserve near Auckland, Rainbow Mountain near Rotorua, and the Puffer Track at Kaitoke near Wellington.
Scrubland orchids include:
Most Thelymitra species, Caladenia species, Corybas cheesemanii, Corybas cryptanthus, Corybas oblongus, Corybas trilobus agg, Cyrtostylis species, Calochilus robertsonii, Calochilus paludosus, Acianthus sinclairii, Gastrodia minor, Genoplesium species, Microtis species, Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae, Prasophyllum colensoi, Pterostylis alobula, Pterostylis trullifolia, Pterostylis foliata, Pterostylis graminea, Pterostylis montana, Pterostylis puberula and Pterostylis tasmanica.
Kauri forest
Two species of greenhood (Pterostylis agathicola and Pterostylis brumalis) are confined to this type of forest. Kauri forest also contains a wide selection of the other forest dwelling species.
Montane to sub-alpine forest
These cooler, higher rainfall forests with a floor covered in mosses are home to species like:
Adenochilus gracilis, Chiloglottis cornuta, Corybas acuminatus, Corybas trilobus agg, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Pterostylis irsoniana, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis venosa, Pterostylis humilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi and Townsonia deflexa.
Banks and streamsides
Mossy banks with constant dripping water are a favourite home to several species of spider orchid. They’re a particularly good place to find:
Corybas iridescens, Corybas macranthus, Corybas oblongus, Corybas orbiculatus, Corybas papa, Corybas rivularis and Corybas “whiskers”.
Lowland native forest
It’s possible to see the bush dwelling species in just about all of the natural forest environments, except for the darkest stands, or those with a dense ground covering of fern.
Orchids prefer a reasonable amount of light, therefore the edges of tracks make an ideal location for them.
Most Greenhood species are forest dwellers, along with many of the spider orchids, the epiphytic orchids, Chiloglottis, some Caladenia, and the potato orchids. Adenochilus is confined almost solely to beech forest.
For those living in Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges are an excellent place to start looking. Most forest tracks have some species growing beside them.
Forest orchids include:
Acianthus sinclairii, Adenochilus gracilis, Bulbophyllum pygmaeum, Bulbophyllum tuberculatum, Caladenia species, Chiloglottis cornuta, Corybas acuminatus, Corybas macranthus, Corybas oblongus, Corybas trilobus, Drymoanthus species, Earina species, Gastrodia species, Pterostylis agathicola, Pterostylis alobula, Pterostylis australis, Pterostylis banksii, Pterostylis brumalis, Pterostylis cardiostigma, Pterostylis cernua, Pterostylis graminea, Pterostylis irsoniana, Pterostylis irwinii, Pterostylis montana agg, Pterostylis oliveri, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis porrecta, Pterostylis trullifolia and Dendrobium cunninghamii.
Alpine scrub and herbfield
This cold wind-blown environment consists of small shrubs, tussock, and stunted mountain beech. Nestled in sheltered areas grow the following:
Pterostylis humilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi, Pterostylis irsoniana, Caladenia lyallii, Waireia stenopetala, Thelymitra cyanea, Thelymitra hatchii, Thelymitra nervosa, Pterostylis tanypoda, Pterostylis tristis, Corybas trilobus agg. and Microtis oligantha.
Swamps and wetland
Surprisingly, a number of species thrive in this environment, even growing in open water. Wetland orchids include:
Corybas carsei, Cryptostylis subulata, Prasophyllum hectorii, Pterostylis micromega, Pterostylis paludosa, Spiranthes australis, Thelymitra cyanea and some Corybas species