Abstract: Dendrobium nobile, an epiphyllous herb, has a high medicinal value. A growth experiment of D. nobile was conducted on 9 tree species in south China. The survival rate, height, diameter and biomass of the herb were determined to assess the growth behavior of the herb on different planting heights of different trees. Results showed that tree species and planting height had significant effects on the growth and biomass accumulation of the herb. Among the 9 trees, D. nobile grew best on Acacia mangium and worst on Araucaria cunninghamii. After 18 months’ growth, D. nobile on Acacia mangium accumulated 26.3% more biomass than on A. cunninghamii. A. confusa behaved similarly to A. mangium. A comprehensive index of growth behavior was computed to evaluate the suitability of D. nobile growth. A. mangium got the highest value of 0.77, compared to 0.44 for A. cunninghamii. Middle height (1.2-1.5 m above ground) was the best position, with more biomass than at the low height (0.6-0.9 m) and the high position (1.8-2.1 m) (4.7% and 9.8%, respectively). We concluded that the middle position of 
A. mangium tree was the ideal habitat for the growth of D. nobile in plantations of south China.

Key words: stand density, non-commercial plantation of Pinus massoniana, soil physicochemical property, understory species