Dendrobium officinale is a valuable medicinal plant, and is widely used in the treatment and daily health care, however, the lack of wild resources and expensive price lead to market disruption of Dendrobium officinale. With the maturation of artificial cultivation technology, the problem related to the lack of resources is gradually solved in recent years. Its tissue culture, cultivation, quality control, chemical constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications, etc are studied at home and aboard. Resources of Dendrobium officinale in term of the Latin name, morphological characteristics, commodity, quality evaluation, and genetic diversity are comprehensively summarized, chemical constituents in polysaccharides, amino acids, trace elements, phenanthrenes, bibenzyls, phenolic acids, and alkaloids are reviewed, and pharmacological effects for improving immune functioning, anti-tumor, anti-aging, lowering blood glucose and blood pressure are integrated. A scientific and theoretical foundation for studying constituents and biological activities of Dendrobium officinale, and for further developing medicinal value of natural products is provided.