Coelogyne cristata is an epiphytic orchid that comes from cool, moist areas of the eastern Himalayas and Vietnam.

Its genus name Coelogyne originates from two Greek words, koilos ("hollow") and gyne ("woman"), because of the orchid's concave stigma.

Cristata takes its species name from crista, the Latin word for "comb", because of the look of the flower's lip.

Its botanical name, coelogyne cristata, is pronounced in Japan as "serojine kirisutata" (セロジネ キリス).

Kurseong was named by its first settlers centuries ago as खरसाङ or Kharsang, the Lepcha word for "The Land of the White Orchids".

After the resting period, when Coelogyne cristata starts to grow again in the spring, it can be replanted in porous and fibrous material, such as pine bark, charcoal pieces and even a little sphagnum, which are all known to be favorable to the orchids.

In cultivation in the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.