Sophronitis wittigiana

Sophronitis wittigiana

Native to: Sophronitis wittigiana is native to Espiritu Santo in Brazil between 700 to 2000 meters in elevation. It prefers to grow on trees with rough bark and a generous supply of moss.

Plant Size: Miniture. The egg-shaped pseudobulbs grow in two staggered rows. The stiff, leathery leaf protects the developing flower.

Flower Size: 2.5 to 3 inches (4-6.5 cm)

Flower Description: Sophronitis wittigiana produces a fairly tall flower spike that has between one and three (or more) flowers.

Bloom Season: Winter

Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool

Additional Information: Sophronitis wittigiana needs to be mounted on cork bark. Provide bright light, air circulation, and humidity. It needs regular water with a slight reduction during cool weather.

Synonyms: Hadrolaelia wittigiana; Sophronitis purpurea; Sophronitis rosea; Sophronitis grandiflora var rosea; Sophronitis violacea

Sophronitis pygmaea

Sophronitis pygmaea


Common Name: The Pygmy Sophronitis

Native to: Sophronitis pygmaea is the smallest member of the genus. It is found growing high up in the coastal mountains in the state of Espirito Santo in Brazil. It grows at the northern part of the range for the genus.

Plant Size: Miniture.

Flower Size: 0.75 inches (2 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are small and brightly colored and resemble butterflies.

Bloom Season: Spring or Fall

Growing Temperature: Cool to Intermediate. Temperatures in the habitat of Sophronitis pygmaea range from 45 F to 85 F.

Additional Information: This species was seperated from Sophronitis coccinia in 1991. Sophronitis pygmaea prefers cool growing conditions. Provide bright light with lots of air circulation. High humidity and constant moisture is critical to success with this species.

Synonyms: Hadrolaelia pygmaea; Sophronitis coccinea subsp. pygmaea; Sophronitis mantiqueirae var. pygmaea

Sophronitis coccinea

Sophronitis coccinea

Common Name: Scarlet Sophronitis

Native to: Sophronitis coccinea is native to mountainous forests in the Serra do Mar mountain range near the coast in Brazil. The plants are found growing between 700 to 1800 meters in elevation. It grows on moss-covered trees and rocks in protected locations. There is constant fog and high humidity in their habitat and the plants are well-adapted to constant moisture.

Plant Size: Miniture. Sophronitis coccinea has compact, tightly clustered pseudobulbs that have a single leaf that grows to 2.5 inches long.

Flower Size: 1.5 to 3 inches (3-7 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Sophronitis coccinea have intense orange-red flowers. The flower stem is short and produces a single flower which is long-lived. Flowers do not have a fragrance.

Bloom Season: Spring or Fall

Growing Temperature: Cool to Intermediate. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees F in the summer in its native habitat. Winter temperatures hover around 45 degrees F.

Additional Information: Sophronitis coccinea has been widely used in hybridizing to bring the bright flower color and small plant size to Cattleya hybrids.

Environmental Ecotypes:

Sophronitis coccinea ecotype militaris - This ecological variety is characterized by sleder pseudobulbs that grow in regularly spaced rows that resemble soldiers standing in a row. They are found growing in dark forests on low branches of trees. The flower stem is very short and the flowers look like they are sitting just above the foliage.

Sophronitis coccinea ecotype coccinea - Sophronitis coccinea ecotype coccinea is the typical form of the species. The leaves are short and broad and the pseudobulbs are well-developed. They grow in on trees or rocks in average orchid light conditions. The foliage has a prominent purple mid rib that runs down the center of the leaf.

Sophronitis coccinea ecotype insolaris - This variety prefers the highest tree branches on the tallest trees and thus receives the greatest amount of light and air circulation. The leaf margin and midrib are streaked with purple. Leaves are shorter and lighter in color than the two forms discussed above. The pseudobulbs resemble eggs. The flower color is brighter and redder than other forms.

Horticultural Varieties:

Sophronitis coccinea var. carmesa - This variety has carmine-red flowers and has more purple undertones in the flower.

Sophronitis coccinea var. barboleta - This variety has peach-colored flowers that have red stripes on the petals. It is very uncommon and is known only from two plants found in the wild.

Sophronitis coccinea var. discolor - It has bright, brick-red flowers with a yellow lip and has red horizontal stripes on the petals.

Sophronitis coccinea var. gigantea - This is a tetraploid form that grows larger than the typical form. The pseudobulbs grow to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The flower is larger and grows to 7.5 cm.

Sophronitis coccinea var. labelloid - Each petal has the same markings as the lip and gives the appearance of three lips.

Sophronitis coccinea var. lobii - The flowers of this variety are lemon-yellow with an orange lip. It is very rare and occurs infrequently in wild populations.

Sophronitis coccinea var. pallens - This form has very light brick red colored flowers.

Sophronitis coccinea var. rossiteriana - This variety has flowers that are the color of egg yolks with a pale yellow lip. Sometimes it is refered to as Sophronitis aurantiaca

Sophronitis coccinea var. striata - This form has red-scarlet flowers that have dark red stripes on the petals.

Provide bright filtered light, high humidity, and air circulation. Water regularly year-round and keep moist. Sophronitis coccinea prefers a mild, water soluable fertilizer all year.

Synonyms: Cattleya coccinea; Cattleya grandiflora; Eunannos coccinea; Hadrolaelia coccinea; Sophronia coccinea; Sophronia militaris; Sophronitis coccinea f. rossiteriana; Sophronitis grandiflora; Sophronitis lowii; Sophronitis militaris; Sophronitis rossiteriana

Sophronitis acuensis

Sophronitis acuensis


Native to: Sophronitis acuensis is native to western facing slopes on Mount Acu in the Organ mountain range in Southeastern Brazil. It is found growing as an epiphyte on trees in ravines near 2000 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Miniture. The plant is somewhat smaller than Sophronitis coccinea.

Flower Size: Large in proportion to the plant.

Flower Description: Sophronitis acuensis has small, brightly colored flowers.

Bloom Season: Fall

Growing Temperature: Cool

Additional Information: Sophronitis acuensis is native to dry slopes where they receive a great deal of direct sun and cooling breezes. Sophronitis acuensis was first discovered in 1975. This species needs ample light, cool temperatures, and high humidity. Humidity levels need to be maintained near 60 percent during the day with higher levels during the night.

Synonyms: Hadrolaelia acuensis