This is a small growing but large flowered species from Brazil that always gets a lot of attention when on one of our displays. It is native to humid coastal forests in the Mata Atlantica, Eastern Brazil. The species grows as an epiphyte from 600m-1300m altitude which suggests it can cope with wide range of temperatures but we find it does best in our Cool Americas section (Min 12C)

The plant shown has been grown from seed and has taken twelve years to reach its current size and this is the first time it has produced three flowers.

As you can see we grow the species mounted. We have also grown plants in pots but find the mounted plants do better for us as we can water heavily without plants becoming waterlogged.

The flowers are long lasting and sweetly fragrant – one of our favourite species.