These epiphytic soft orchids form small clumps of psudobulbs that are connected by rhizomes. They have fleshy dark glossy green leaves and the flowers are avalable in a wide range of colours and shapes appearing above the foliage during summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Cattleya species are naturaly found in South America growing in tropical forests in composted leaf mould or bark and course organic material and grow in a semi shaded humid wind protected position and is frost and drought tender.

Florist Orchid is a tender tropical orchid that is grown for its flowers. It is planted in a rainforest setting or used as a bush-house specimen (in warmer areas) or under glass in cooler regions. The flowers are also used in floral arrangements and are commonly exhibited in orchid displays. ID 441

There are two groups unifoliate and bifoliate. 

The unifoliate Cattleyas have a psudobulb with one large leaf emerging from the top. They also have the largest flowers with a wide colour range from white, yellow, gold, orange, pink, red, lavender and green. There is also combinations of these colours and there can be 1-6 flowers per stem.

The bifoliate Cattleyas have psudobulbs with two leaves emerging from the top and the flowers are smaller but in greater numbers per stem. There colour range is large including white, yellow, gold, orange, pink, red, lavender and green with variations in the flower shape.

Cattleya (KĂT-lee-a) species

Commemorates nineteenth century horticulturist William Cattley, who saved the first recorded cattleyas from destruction, when they were being used as packing material in Brazil in 1818.

Orchidaceae (or-kid-AY-see-ee)
Orchid Family