This lovely and unusual species didn’t flower last year as it was carrying a seed pod but a spray of four flowers has just opened this year.

Paraphalaenopsis is a genus just four species endemic to Borneo. They are all warm growing with pendulous terete leaves and flowers which appear similar to Phalaenopsis – hence the name.

Paraphalaenopsis labukensis comes from near the Labuk river where it grows as an epiphyte from 500 to 1000m altitude. The species has variable flower colour from yellow to dark brown and on first flowering we are really pleased with the colour of our flowers. The flowers also have a twist on the petals and sepals – we think that is probably to help advertise the flowers in all directions. The leaves are long and thin, so far only 80cm long but apparently over 2m when the plant is fully mature. A basket is great to accommodate the pendulous habit and the plant is well suited to conditions in our Warm Asia section.