There is so much to love about this plant. Treasured for its velvety foliage. The colorful leaves are soft and suede-like to the touch and are not nearly as large as some other types of orchids. The genus Ludisia contains just one species, and the jewel orchid is it (Ludisia discolor). It is also sometimes called the tiger orchid or the golden lace orchid.
The stems of jewel orchids are actually pseudobulbs, which makes them super easy to propagate (more on that process later in the article). These stems creep along the ground, spreading the plant by rooting into the leaf litter as they go. They are native to Southeast Asia where they are found in the deep shade of the tropical understory, but they are grown all over the world as a houseplant.
