We have one of our favourite Gongoras in flower today. This species is easil;y identified by the extra long horns on the lip (the longest in the genus). It is also beautifully fragrant.

Gongora grossa is one of the larger flowered species and the scent is powerfully spicy and filling Warm Asia where it grows (despite coming from the Americas).

Gongora grossa comes from wet evergreen lowland forest and Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador and the species seems to relish life in our Warm Asia section with a winter minimum of 17C. We grow the plants in baskets and water them frequently to keep the compost moist but do not worry if the humidity falls in the heat of the day.