About Us

Tom Perlite founded Golden Gate Orchids in 1981 as a wholesale nursery supplying flowering orchids to the San Francisco Bay Area. The business grew, and eventually filled a 40,000 square foot greenhouse with incredible orchids from all over the world.

After many years of growing and hybridizing a wide range of orchid genera, Tom has shifted his focus to Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. This unique species is from Papua New Guinea, and is both challenging and extremely rewarding to grow. The D. cuthbertsonii exclusively available here are the product of over 25 years of selection, providing the most vigorous, beautiful, and exceptional plants.

Tom has also been growing and propagating other tropical plants that have interested him for many years. These include tropical Rhododendrons (Vireya), hybrid and species Platyceriums (Staghorn ferns), and other unique tropical plants. These will be offered for sale very soon.