If you like brightly coloured orchids then this is a star performer.

Orchid species have evolved some amazing colours to attract their pollinators and Cochlioda noezliana (also known as Oncidium noezlianum) is one of the most arresting with the bright scarlet flowers tinged with violet and yellow around the column – attracting hummingbirds.

Cochlioda noezliana is native to the cloud forests of Colombia that has been a major influence on orchid breeding since its discovery. It is the orchid species behind the red in many of the red orchids hybrids sold around the world today in the Oncidineae subtribe.

This species has a reputation as not the easiest to grow, but we find it straight forward if you stick to the cool moist conditions of its cloud forest home (our cool Americas section) where it is found from 2000-3500m altitude. We find that the species does particularly well in baskets – so damp but very free draining – and baskets also show off the arching flower spikes.