Orchids
594 US plant patents cover orchids, across 4 genera. 28 of them (5%) have already expired — those plants are in the public domain and anyone may propagate and sell them.
Genera in this group
| Genus | Patents | Free to propagate | Next to expire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phalaenopsis | 516 | 21 | October 1, 2027 |
| Vanda | 51 | 0 | December 30, 2030 |
| ×Doritaenopsis | 14 | 1 | February 8, 2027 |
| Dendrobium | 13 | 6 | July 11, 2027 |
Coming off patent next
- ×DoritaenopsisFebruary 8, 2027
- DendrobiumJuly 11, 2027
- PhalaenopsisOctober 1, 2027
- VandaDecember 30, 2030
This grouping is ours, not the USPTO’s. A plant patent records a botanical genus; it never says “orchid”. We group genus by genus, which means the grouping is only as good as that judgement — and a genus that spans two kinds appears under both. For the precise answer, use genus.
A patent expiring frees the plant, not the name. The cultivar name is always safe to use; a trade name may still be a live trademark. See what you may call it.