We have a remarkable species from the Cattleya family today. Schomburgkia lueddemanii is found from Venezuela to Costa Rica and is found in hot lowland forest. As a result it enjoys good light and high temperatures and we grow plants in large baskets hanging high in Warm Americas. It enjoys being kept well watered especially in the summer.

The genus Schomburgkia has about 22 species from South and Central America and we have two of them in flower this week.  Schomburgkia lueddemanii is the larger growing species with larger flowers but a similar theme of twisted brown petals and sepals and a pink lip. The smaller Schomburgkia superbiens is shown below.

Plants are robust and produce tall spikes topped with up to twenty, or so, flowers that give a dramatic display