Eulophia is a fascinating and highly varied genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, bringing together some of the most adaptable and characterful terrestrial orchids of the tropics and subtropics. Eulophia is an accepted genus of perennials, native across tropical and subtropical regions and currently lists 286 accepted species. In Africa, the genus is especially rich and diverse, occurring in habitats ranging from fynbos to semi-arid regions and coastal dunes to grasslands, swamps and tropical forests, with sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands forming a major centre of diversity. Many species grow from underground corms, tubers or pseudobulbs, producing pleated leaves and elegant flower spikes that may carry yellow, green, brown, cream, pink, purple or richly marked blooms. Some, such as Eulophia speciosa, are rewarding pot plants with bright yellow flowers, while others, such as Eulophia horsfallii, can become magnificent, tall-growing garden or container specimens with large purple flowers.

Eulophia aculeata is a South African indigenous species from the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape Provinces. It is synonymously known as Orthochilus aculeatus, Cymbidium aculeatum, Cymbidium pedicellatum, Cymbidium plicatum, Cyrtopera pedicellata, Epidendrum aculeatum, Eulophia capensis, Eulophia culveri, Eulophia pedicellata, Satyrium aculeatum, Satyrium pedicellatum and Serapias aculeata. It has stiffly erect leaves of up to 60 cm tall. During summer it produces a dense head of up to 27 dull ivory to pink or purple flowers. It can be sown in either autumn or spring.