The genus name (from Greek επί, epi and δένδρον, dendron, "upon trees") refers to its epiphytic growth habit.

The plants resemble Dendrobiums in form and habit typically, although they tend to be terrestrial rather than lithophytic and epiphytic, and do better in a humus rich, well aerated substrate.

[4][5] Most of the high altitude members of this genus from cloud forests defy cultivation outside their habitat, and it is reported that even moving a plant from one location to another on the same host tree in habitat will result in the death of the plant, possibly due to dependency on a specific mycorrhizal fungal symbiont.

The apical, lateral or basal flowers are mostly small to medium in size and frequently are not marked by a conspicuous display.

This genus has the following characteristics: Initially, European taxonomists applied the generic epithet Epidendrum to all newly discovered epiphytic orchids.

As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published.

Hybridization is thought to have a strong influence in diversification of this genus sometimes compromising the genetic integrity of the parental species.

While they are normally grown in pots, it is also possible to grow them in a bark garden or on a tree, although the plants prefer a humus rich well-aerated media.