This amazing cattleya species from Colombia has opened a few days too late for the London Show – maybe next year. The species has very large flowers which I have heard compared frilly knickers but that is harsh.

With us the species is a strong grower and a reliable flowerer when grown in a basket of course bark hanging up in Warm Americas (Min 15C). The natural habitat is lowland montane forest where it grows as an epiphyte in large trees and so the species has evolved for bright warm and well drained conditions. Flowers are pollinated by large bees but attract orchid project students too and there has been a crowd around the plant this week.