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Definition of orchid cactus
orchid cactus
Plural:orchid cacti
orchid cactus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various epiphytic cacti, primarily of the genus Epiphyllum, native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, characterized by trailing, flattened stems and large, brightly colored, often fragrant flowers.
Example
"She carefully monitored the humidity in the greenhouse to ensure her rare orchid cactus would finally bloom."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for orchid cactus• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive common name coined because the plant produces large, spectacular flowers resembling true orchids, despite botanically being a member of the cactus family.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Orchid cactus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/orchid cactus