Epidendrum umbelliferum

Epidendrum umbelliferum

Common Name: Umbel-Flowered Epidendrum
Native to: Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, and islands in the Caribbean. It grows on trees.
Plant Size: Miniature.
Flower Size: 0.5 inches (1 cm)
Flower Description: The flowers of Epidendrum umbelliferum are produced on a tightly packed, unbranched terminal inflorescence.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Epidendrum umbelliferum is closely related to Epidendrum difforme but has enough unique characteristics to remain as a distinct species. Grow mounted on cork bark or tree fern and provide even moisture and fertilizer throughout the year.
Synonyms: Epidendrum chlorocorymbos, Epidendrum panegyricum, Epidendrum pseudodifforme, Epidendrum subumbellatum

Epidendrum tridens

Epidendrum tridens

Common Name: Three-toothed Epidendrum
Native to: Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana. Epidendrum tridens is widespread and common. This species grows between 1500 and 2500 meters in elevation on trees.
Plant Size: Medium. Epidendrum tridens has reed-like stems with several leaves.
Flower Size: 2.75 to 3.5 inches (7-9 cm)
Flower Description: The white flowers of Epidendrum tridens are very similar to Epidendrum nocturnum and are fragrant at night.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Grow Epidendrum tridens mounted on cork bark or tree fern or grow in a well-drained pot with coarse growing media. Like many widespread species, this one is adaptable to many different growing conditions. Easy to grow.
Synonyms: Amphiglottis nocturna var. latifolia, Epidendrum carpophorum, Epidendrum nocturnum var. latifolium, Epidendrum nocturnum var. tridens, Epidendrum nocturnum var. tumuc-humaciense, Epidendrum tridens var. briegeri, Epidendrum tumuc-humaciense, Epidendrum tunguraguae

Epidendrum propinquum

Epidendrum propinquum

Common Name: Closely Related Epidendrum
Native to: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador. Epidendrum propinquum grows on trees or more commonly as terrestrial plants between 500 and 2700 meters in elevation. It is found in oak, oak-pine, and evergreen tropical forests.
Plant Size: Large. Epidendrum propinquum has reed-like stems. The stems branch with age.
Flower Size: 0.75 inches
Flower Description: The flowers of Epidendrum propinquum are produced on terminal inflorescences and have around ten flowers. The flowers open all at one time and have a mild, pleasant fragrance.
Bloom Season: Spring to Fall
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Grow Epidendrum propinquum in well-drained pots in a high-quality terrestrial orchid mix. Provide humid conditions with water and fertilizer throughout the year.
Synonyms: Epidendrum cingillum, Epidendrum lamprocaulon, Epidendrum ledifolium, Epidendrum lucidum

Epidendrum cnemidophorum - Leg-Armor Epidendrum

Epidendrum cnemidophorum

Common Name: Leg-Armor Epidendrum

Native to: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Epidendrum cnemidophorum grows in humid could forests on trees.

Plant Size: Medium

Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are dark in color and attractive. The flower spike has between 3 and 10 flowers in the winter.

Bloom Season: Winter

Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool

Additional Information: Grow Epidendrum cnemidophorum either mounted or grown in well-drained pots with a coarse growing media. Provide constant moisture and fertilizer throughout the year. Newer cultivars are coming on the market that have improved flower color and form.

Synonyms: Encyclia affinis, Epidendrum affine, Epidendrum macrobotryum

Epidendrum chloe - Chloe's Epidendrum

Epidendrum chloe

Common Name: Chloe's Epidendrum

Native to: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua. Epidendrum chloe prefers humid mountain forests and grows on moss-covered trees between 1000 and 1200 meters.

Plant Size: Medium. The leaves of Epidendrum chloe are grassy and thin

Flower Size: 0.5 inches (1.5 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers develop on a short stem that grows from the top of a recently matured cane. There are only a few flowers per growth.

Bloom Season: Late Winter to Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: This species was first described to the scientific community back in 1856. Grow mounted on cork or tree fern plaques for best results. Provide warmth and humidity.

Synonyms: Epidendrum culmiforme

Epidendrum carolii - Carol's Epidendrum

Epidendrum carolii

Common Name: Carol's Epidendrum

Native to: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Epidendrum carolii grows wild in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Oaxaca. Its primary habitat is moist oak forests between 500 and 1700 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small. The fleshy stems have two or more sword-shaped green leaves.

Flower Size: 0.5 inches (1.75 cm)

Flower Description: The small flowers are produced on a terminal flower stem that grows to 8 inches (20 cm) in height. The flowers have a faint, pleasant scent.

Bloom Season: Spring to Fall

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Epidendrum carolii is a compact species that can be grown successfully on cork or tree fern mounts. Provide heat and humidity along with adequate air circulation for best results. The small flowers have a charm of their own.

Synonyms: None.

Epidendrum cardiochilum - Heart-Shaped Lip Epidendrum

Epidendrum cardiochilum

Common Name: Heart-Shaped Lip Epidendrum

Native to: Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Epidendrum cardiochilum inhabits warm and cool, wet cloud forest habitats where it grows on trees. It is usually found between 500 and 1400 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small. Epidendrum cardiochilum produces small pseudobulbs and has two or three long, tongue-shaped leaves.

Flower Size: 0.75 inches (2 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are moderate in size and have a heart-shaped lip. The inflorescence develops as the growth develops and produces blooms in the winter. Only a few flowers are produced by each growth.

Bloom Season: Winter

Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool

Additional Information: This small Mexican and Central American species has small but attractive flowers and a compact habit. Grow mounted on cork or tree fern. It is adaptable but prefers humidity and constant moisture.

Synonyms: Epidendrum segoviense

Encyclia mooreana

Encyclia mooreana

Common Name: Moore's Encyclia

Native to: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama. Encyclia mooreana grows on larger tree branches in mountainous cloud forests between 270 and 2100 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium. The pear-shaped pseudobulbs have two or three fleshy leaves that grow to 20 inches (50 cm).

Flower Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Flower Description: Fragrant. The flowers of Encyclia mooreana smell like honey. The flowers are attractive and are light in color with distinctive markings. The flower stem is heavily branched and grows from 20 inches to 6 feet (50-200 cm). Flower stems develop from freshly matured pseudobulbs.

Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer.

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: It is clear to see from the appearance of the flowers that Encyclia mooreana is closely related to Encyclia oncidioides.

Synonyms: Encyclia brenesii; Encyclia oncidioides var. mooreana; Encyclia tonduziana; Epidendrum mooreanum; Epidendrum oncidioides var. mooreanum; Epidendrum tonduzianum

Encyclia dickinsoniana

Encyclia dickinsoniana

Common Name: Dickinson's Encyclia

Native to: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua. Encyclia dickinsoniana grows on trees and prefers low-elevation mountain forests.

Plant Size: Medium. The egg-shaped pseudobulbs produce two or three long, linear leaves.

Flower Size: 1 inch (3 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers bloom in spring on a 24 inch (60 cm) long inflorescence that is branched. Flower stems develop from mature pseudobulbs. Encyclia dickinsoniana has glistening flowers which is highly unusual in the genus Encyclia.

Bloom Season: Spring to Summer

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Encyclia dickinsoniana was named in honor of Mr. Dickinson who was an American orchid collector who was active in Mexico during the middle part of the 20th century. Grow mounted on cork or tree fern plaques or grow in a pot with good drainage. Provide warm Cattleya orchid growing conditions.

Synonyms: Epidendrum dickinsonianum

Encyclia bractescens

Encyclia bractescens

Common Name: Bractescent Encyclia Orchid

Native to: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Encyclia bractescens grows on trees in humid tropical forests up to 1200 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs are tightly clustered and have two shiny, tongue-shaped leaves.

Flower Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are produced on a simple or lightly branched inflorescence that grows to 15 inches (38 cm) in height. The flowers are long-lasting and fragrant.

Bloom Season: Late Winter to Early Spring.

Growing Temperature: Warm to Intermediate.

Additional Information: Encyclia bractescens is easy to grow and rewarding for the hobbyist. Grow under standard cattleya orchid temperatures or warmer. They can grow well in pots with coarse fir bark or mounted on cork or tree fern slabs. Let them dry out between waterings.

Synonyms: Encyclia acicularis; Epidendrum aciculare; Epidendrum bractescens; Epidendrum esculentum; Epidendrum linearifolium

Encyclia ambigua

Encyclia ambigua

Common Name: Ambiguous Encyclia Orchid

Native to: Mexico and Central America. Encyclia ambigua is found growing in southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It grows in open forests from 950 to 1875 meters in elevation. They grow on trees and occasionally on rocks.
Plant Size: Medium to Large. The oval pseudobulbs are clustered and produce two to to three tongue-shaped leaves.

Flower Size: 1.75 inches (4.5 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia ambigua are similar to Encyclia alata. The flower stem is branched and can reach 5 feet (150 cm). Flowers are fragrant and smell or honey or beeswax.

Bloom Season: Late Spring to Summer.

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Warm.

Additional Information: Encyclia ambigua is another tall-flowered species from Central America. Grow mounted on cork bark or tree fern or in a pot with adequate drainage. Provide typical Cattleya conditions with average light and humidity. A large specimen becomes a great conversation piece.

Synonyms: Encyclia trachychila; Epidendrum alatum; Epidendrum ambiguum; Epidendrum trachychilum

Barkeria spectabilis

Barkeria spectabilis

Common Name: Spectacular Barkeria

Native to: El Salvador, Guatemala, southern Mexico. Barkeria spectabilis grows on oak tree branches in its native habitat in drier areas. It is found growing between 1300 and 3500 meters in elevation. Occasionally, it grows on rocks as a lithophyte.

Plant Description: Small. Narrow, cylindrical pseudobulbs of Barkeria spectabilis have a few fleshy, deciduous leaves that turn yellow and fall during the winter dormant season. Plants have vigorous white roots.

Flower Size: 1 3/4 inches to 3 inches (4-8 cm)

Flower Description: Barkeria spectabilis flowers are variable and range from lilac to white. The lip has reddish markings. Flowers are large for the genus. The flowers do not have any noticeable fragrance. The flowers are short-lived but open in succession which provides a decent flower show for the grower. The flower stem is approximately 10 inches (25 cm) and originates from the top of a newly maturing pseudobulb.

Bloom Season: Summer

Temperature: Warm to Cool

Additional Information: Barkeria spectabilis grows best mounted on cork or a tree branch. Provide ample water and fertilizer during its period of active growth. Reduce watering when the leaves begin to yellow and water just enough during the dormant period (October to January) to keep the plant from completely dehydrating. Provide average to bright light, average humidity, and good air circulation.

Synonyms: Barkeria lindleyanan ssp. spectabile, Epidendrum spectabile