A new species for 365 days is this remarkable Dracula species native to Ecuador. Dracula sodiroi has unique flowers that hang like little orange lanterns and are produced in twos or threes, well spaced, on spikes clear of the lush green leaves. The insides of the flowers are covered with white hairs. Flowers are about 2cm across and 4cm from the top to the tip of the tails.

The species is native to cool wet forests from 1500-2400m altitude and, in common with other dracula species, is sensitive to high temperatures if not kept very wet in summer. The moss around the base of the plant shows that we keep plants very wet all year, growing under the shade of other orchids in our cool americas section.

The flowers are long lasting and once a plant is happy it will produce flowers on and off throughout the year making it a very rewarding species to grow.