Cattleya of Central and South America

Cattleya includes 40-65 species of epiphytic herbs from Central and South America. They are found from high-altitude cloud forests to coastal woodlands from Costa Rica to South Argentina. The genus is closely allied to Epidendrum. Cattleyas are the quintessential orchids to most people, commonly used in corsages. Leaves are usually oblong and stiff, attached to the ends of stalked pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs are short, swollen stems that store water; they are typical of orchids that grow in seasonally moist/dry climates. New growth arises from the base of the previous pseudobulb (sympodial). Flowers have spreading tepals and a simple or lobed, often fringed or ruffled lip.

Cattleyas are divided horticulturally into 2 groups. Those in the bifoliate group have 2, or occasionally 3, leaves at the end of slender pseudobulbs. Flowers are small to medium, born in clusters. The unifoliate, or labiate cattleyas, have a single leaf at the end of a stout pseudobulb and 1-3 large flowers with showy lips. This latter group is the basis of most hybrids. In Costa Rica, certain orchids are sometimes so prolific, even growing between roof tiles, that they are considered pests. Cattleyas readily hybridize with a number of related genera. Intergeneric hybrid names are usually abbreviated; for example, LC is an abbreviation for the group xLaeliocattleya (Laelia x Cattleya).

Cattleya bowringiana - Synonym: C skinneri var. bowringiana. Belize, Guatemala, Honduras. Epiphytic herb; zones 10-11. Blooms fall. Regular moisture and humidity, dry when cool. Mount on tree-fern slab or limb, pot in orchid mix. Bright broken light. Flowers: to 3 in. wide, magenta, throat with white spot. Leaves: bifoliate, oblong, to 8 in.; pseudobulb elongated, stem like, to about 1 ft. long. Produces massive clumps. This species is similar but more prolific and with smaller flowers than C. skinneri, which blooms in late winter and spring. Spectacular when massed on stumps or sturdy limbs. Forgiving and pest resistant.

Cattleya xguatemalensis Natural hybrid (Central America), - C aurantiaca x C. skinneri. Epiphytic herb; zones 10-11. Blooms late fall, winter. Regular moisture and humidity; dry when cool. Mount on tree-fern slab or limb, pot in orchid mix. Bright broken light. Flowers: pinkish lavender to pinkish orange, lip tubular at base, tip red, throat orange; in many-flowered clusters. Leaves: bifoliate, oblong, to 6 in.; pseudobulb cylindrical, stem-like. A natural hybrid resembling the C. skinneri parent vegetatively. Cattleya percivaliana

CATTLEYA - Synonym: C. labiata var. percivaliana. Venezuela. Epiphytic or lithophytic herb; zones 10-11. Blooms winter. Moist and humid, dry when cool. Mount on tree-fern slab or limb, pot in orchid mix. Full sun to bright broken light. Flowers: tepals pink-lavender, to 5 in. wide, lip deep magenta at the tip, throat streaked with violet and orange; margins ruffled.