This species is native to the Philippines and Borneo where it grows as a small sized, warm growing epiphyte. During the summer it produces pendulous flower spikes which bear a few heavily spotted flowers. The flowers carry a slight fragrance which is most present during the warmest part of the day. Phalaenosis mariae is very closely related to another species P. bastanii, which is most notably different by its slightly smaller flowers and upright flower spikes.