Some of our orchids are just too big to take out of the greenhouse to shows and this species is one of them.

The species is native to Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, where it grows as a terrestrial or epiphyte, and produces thin canes about 2m long, and in late spring these large (15cm across) flowers that last about two days. This is a lot of leaves and stems for a couple of days flowers but we are really fond of the species as it has a dramatic splendour all of its own.

We grow it in a 90 cm diameter tree container and I am reminded by last year’s post that we need to split the plant up  to provide pieces of this unusual orchid for our partners at the Eden Project, Bristol University Botanic Garden, The Living Rainforest and Bristol Aquarium, so that more people can enjoy this great species.