This arresting large flowered Bulbophyllum is native to Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines from warm lowland forest at 200m up to montane forest at 2000m and this wide distribution provides considerable variation in the species and plants that can cope with a range of temperatures.

The evergreen forests we have explored in its range do not have a long dry season and so we water throughout the year and grow plants in shade where they seem to enjoy growing in a basket with good drainage.

In common with many bulbophyllums the species is pollinated by flys and the flowers are pungent but don’t sell as disgusting as some species. The lip is delicately hinged and when the fly lands it is pressed against the column to pick up and deposit pollinia