In Greek mythology Pleione was a nymph, wife of Atlas and mother of the seven sisters, the Pleiades. Her name, with those of the rest of her family, has since been given to a star in the Pleiades, and to this genus of beautiful, small, epiphytic orchids, which are surprisingly hardy and easy to grow. Some can be grown outside, but most are best kept frost-free or nearly so, and grown in a typical well-drained orchid compost under cold glass. They should be allowed to dry off after leaves die back in the autumn, repotted in winter, and gradually given more water as they come into growth in later winter. Most flower in spring, a few in autumn. They all have relatively large flowers on short stems, most bright pink colours, but some white and a few yellow.

Pleione formosana has flowers that are soft pink, but with the 'trumpet' even paler, and in some forms almost white.