Things To Do in Udon Thani – Udorn Sunshine Orchid Farm
Udorn Sunshine Orchid Farm is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Udon Thani and is a place worthy of a visit for anyone with a passion for orchid flowers, and for those whose hobbies include photography of colourful flowers and plants. Of all the things to do in Udon Thani, Udorn Sunshine Orchid Farm rates as a big favourite among both Thai and foreign tourists.
Udorn Sunshine Orchid Farm was opened in 1977 by Mr Pradit Kamperpool for the purpose of research and development into orchid flowers and it wasn’t long before a new fragrant orchid was bred.
Miss Udorn Sunshine is a heavily scented hybrid Vanda orchid developed by cross-breeding two orchid flowers, Josephine Van Berrow and Denisoniana Sampadong (a native Thai orchid), the offshoot being a sweet-scented hybrid orchid which produced the world’s first known orchid perfume.
The flower was registered with the International Orchid Registry of the Royal Horticultural Society(UK) in1988. Its scent is extracted and blended with miniscule amounts of citrus, lemon grass and kefir-lime leaf to produce Miss Udorn Sunshine Perfume. 
In recent years two new scents, Udorn Toob Moob Maeng Kaeng and Udorn Toob Moob have been produced. All three perfumes can be bought in the orchid farm’s shop and retail in the 300-1,000 baht price range. There are many other varieties of hybrid Vanda orchids on display at the nursery too. Photo source: otop5star.
Pradit Kamperpool and his staff at the orchid nursery have also cultivated a dancing plant. It’s an oval leafed hybrid of the Codariocalyx Motorius Ohashi Leguminosae species (a tropical Asian shrub often called the Telegraph Plant), that not only dances to the sound of music (its young leaves sway and move to sound) but is also harvested to make herbal tea which can be purchased from the farm shop. The dancing plant has many medicinal benefits and is used in some parts of Asia for treating minor flesh wounds and snake bites. The Dancing Tea is also reputed to rejuvenate skin (anti-ageing) and is beneficial in the treatment and prevention of stomach ailments.
Below are photographs of Udorn Sunshine Orchid Farm and some of the hybrid Vanda orchids cultivated there. Click on a photograph to enlarge or view with PicLens.
Information
Address: Soi Kamol Watthana, Udon-Nong Samrong Road, Udon Thani.
Telephone 042-242-475
Open Monday to Sunday from 07:00 – 18:00.
Entrance fee: 20 baht.
It’s advisable to wear sturdy well-gripped shoes or boots as parts of the orchid nursery can be quite slippery.
Hi Martyn, Love orchids but I don’t have green fingers They look so nice the first time when I get them from the nursery, but they will never bloom again on my watch. Some say fertilize with beer, but I feel it is such a waste. I am sure you must be missing the services of your Vivitar circa 2009.
Is it true that Udon Thani has the largest expat population in the North-East and did you use to go by name of Hoo Don (any story behind that ?) Sorry too many questions.
How – I’m not a big lover of flowers myself but Wonderful Wi absolutely adores them. Although she was more keen to get into the farm shop to buy some perfume than to view the orchids. Or Whore Kids as she calls them.
The Vivitar is a great loss to the world of photography. I’ve always been surprised Mr Armstrong didn’t take one to the moon.
Udon has a very large expat community but I don’t know if it’s the biggest in Isaan. My guess would be yes.
Hoo Don?….bloggers never tell.
Best wishes
Hoodon.
Hoo Don – Damn I was hoping to catch you off guard and get entertained in the process. Keep up the great work with your blog.
How – Being a big cricket fan I’m always on guard.
Mu apologies to you and others for being late in replying to your comments but that dreaded four letter word came up… WORK.
Hi Martyn, I am not surprised the orchid’s leaves dance to the music, our windows and floors dance to the karaoke music we sometimes get here.
DanPloy – Good point and delivered with a nice bit of humour…or do you prefer humor. The former for me.
There was a coach in the car park opposite the orchid farm blaring out music, and I mean blaring, when I was there, but I didn’t see any plants or flowers dancing. Mind you I wasn’t looking too closely. It was quite slippery and I was concentrating on staying upright.
Good post Martyn. I do love Thai orchids! Whenever I go to the UK I make sure to buy boxes of sealed orchids at the airport. Orchids make for lovely, inexpensive presents.
The US doesn’t allow me to import airport orchids, even sealed, so their loss.
Scented orchids are great to shop for. I start looking in the afternoon, around 3pm. That way the scent has a better chance of being distinguishable and I don’t have to depend upon the iffy yes yes yes of the orchid sellers.
Catherine – Every girl loves Whore Kids but Wilai was more keen on sniffing the perfume. She bought a 300 baht bottle of something. I really should take more interest.
Thanks for the orchid buying tips and they must make lovely presents. Presentation, i.e. boxed, cellophane wrapping, really does enhance flowers appeal.