It is Aerangis week in the greenhouse with several species in flower. Aerangis verdickii is one of our most significant species as we are working with FAWE School Rwanda on student experiments to reintroduce the species to trees in Kigali.

This Aerangis species is found right across central and east Africa where it grows in woodland and copes with seasonal dry periods by storing water in its thick roots which form an extensive root system over time. It has grey green, waxy leaves also evolved to reduce water loss. The large waxy flowers have 16cm spurs.

We have seen the species in Rwanda showing how it copes with a dry climate (see photo below) on a tree in the capital Kigali.

We do have a large number of seedlings of this species in out laboratory and as well as sharing these with our partners in Rwanda for their school experiments next year.

We grow the species in Warm Asia hanging in the roof where it receives good light, high temperatures and dries quickly after watering.