Our boxing day orchid is this pretty little masdevallia that flowers profusely in both midsummer and midwinter.

Masdevallia mystica is possibly a natural hybrid and is found in Colombian cloud forest. One parent is probably Masdevallia filaria that it grows amongst but the other possible parent is a mystery – hence the name.

At school we grow this species in baskets, mounted, and in pots, in Cool Americas and when kept cool and damp rewards us with vigorous growth and regular flowering. The individual flowers are long lasting and so there is rarely a day when none of our Masdevallia mystica plants are flowering.