As you can see from the photos above Oncidium unguiculatum produces very long branched spikes(usually about 2.5m long) with large flowers spread quite sparsely.

The delicious sulfur yellow lip is really striking even when it is high above you in the roof of the greenhouse.The species is endemic to Mexico and is found from 1600 to 2500m in cool oak forests which experience much wetter summers than winters but we find plants don’t appreciate dying out to much in the winter, although good drainage in a basket seems to suit them best. We grow the species in a basket in cool Americas.

The spikes are pretty much self supporting and we like to let them arch naturally though this year the spike has found it way through the mesh in the roof and so dances above our other plants in baskets – a lovely sight.