Monkey orchid

A beautiful spring-flowering orchid which is quite unusual because the flowers open in sequence, from those at the top down to those at the bottom. The hood on the flower is pale pink, often with attractive red streaks, and is spotted or veined red inside. But the best reason for growing this is the bizarre, animated, monkey-like growth, with red 'hands' and 'feet' which poke out of the hood making it a big hit with children. It's best grown in a frost-free greenhouse where it likes bright light and moderate watering over summer, but it needs to be kept dry while dormant.