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 strobiliferum

Epidendrum strobiliferum

Common Name: Pine-cone Epidendrum Orchid
Native to: South Florida, Central America, northern South America, Peru, Venezuela. Epidendrum strobiliferum grows on trees in disturbed areas up to 900 meters in elevation.
Plant Size: Miniature. Epidendrum strobiliferum has reed-like stems. The stems grow in an pendant fashion and droop down. There are several fleshy, leathery leaves per stem.
Flower Size: Tiny. 0.25 inches (6 mm)
Flower Description: Epidendrum strobiliferum produces a few small flowers on a short terminal inflorescence that open over a period of time.
Bloom Season: Spring, Fall
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Epidendrum strobiliferum has a pendant growing habit and is best grown mounted on cork bark, tree fern, or driftwood where the plant can hang freely. Provide ample water and fertilizer during warm months and keep the plant on the dry side during winter months. It can be grown with Cattleya orchids but is adaptable to warmer or cooler growing conditions.
Synonyms: Epidendrum mosenii, Epidendrum rodriguesii, Epidendrum strobiliferum var. swartzii, Epidendrum verrecundum. Isochilus ramosus, Spathiger strobiliferus

Epidendrum rigidum

Epidendrum rigidum

Common Name: Rigid Epidendrum
Native to: South Florida, Caribbean islands, Mexico to Venezuela to Peru. Epidendrum rigidum grows in wet forests on trees. This tropical species is found in semi-deciduous, evergreen, and mangrove forests. It is found from sea level to 1300 meters.
Plant Size: Medium. Epidendrum rigidum has reed-like stems with up to six leaves.
Flower Size: 0.5 inches (1.2 cm)
Flower Description: The flowers are produced at the tip of the mature stems.
Bloom Season: Spring and Fall
Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm
Additional Information: Epidendrum rigidum has been found growing in south Florida. Grow mounted on cork bark or tree fern plaques or grow in a well-drained pot or slatted basket.
Synonyms: Epidendrum cardiophorum, Epidendrum pium, Spathiger rigidus

Epidendrum conopseum - Greenfly Orchid

Epidendrum conopseum

Common Name: Greenfly Orchid

Native to: Florida, Mexico. Epidendrum conopseum grows on trees at low elevations. In Florida, it can be found growing in cypress swamp plant communities.

Plant Size: Small. The upright stems are reed-like and have many leaves. Roots are thick and spongy.

Flower Size: 0.75 inches (2.3 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers are borne on a simple, unbranched flower spike that grows to 6 inches (16 cm) tall.

Bloom Season: Fall to Spring

Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm (adaptable)

Additional Information: Epidendrum conopseum is called the green fly orchid because of the shape of its lip which is used to attract a pollinator. Easy to grow and common in its native habitat. Grow mounted on cork or tree fern and provide even moisture. There is a Mexican variety; Epidendrum conopseum var. mexicanum. This variety grows on trees in pine-oak forests in the mountains of Mexico between 1100 and 2000 meters in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi.
Synonyms: Amphiglottis conopsea, Epidendrum magnoliae, Larnandra conopsea, Epidendrum magnoliae

Epidendrum anceps - Brown Epidendrum

Epidendrum anceps

Common Name: Brown Epidendrum

Native to: Florida and the American tropics. Widespread. Epidendrum anceps grows on trees in cypress swamps and in forests up to 2000 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium.

Flower Size: 0.5 inches (1.5 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Epidendrum anceps range from brown to orange in color. The flowers can occur any time of the year and bloom on a terminal flower stem that grows to 9 inches (22.5 cm). Unlike most other orchids, the flower stem persists for many years and produces flowers any time of the year. Fragrant flowers. Some people think the flowers smell like old straw.

Bloom Season: Anytime of the year.

Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm.

Additional Information: Epidendrum anceps is a widespread and adaptable species that has many variations. The best cultivars have nicely shaped orange flowers. Grow mounted on cork or tree fern plaques or grow in slatted wood baskets in a coarse, open growing media. Provide Cattleya orchid growing conditions. This species tolerates a wide range of temperatures.

Synonyms: Amphiglottis anceps, Amphiglottis lurida, Cattleya galeottiana, Epidendrum amphistomum, Epidendrum anceps var. viridipurpureum, Epidendrum cearense, Epidendrum ensatum, Epidendrum fuscatum, Epidendrum fuscatum var. virescens, Epidendrum galeottianum, Epidendrum musciferum, Epidendrum patens, Epidendrum schenckianum, Epidendrum schreineri, Epidendrum secundum, Epidendrum secundum ssp. Breigeri, Epidendrum virescens, Epidendrum viridipurpureum, Tritelandra fuscata

Epidendrum acunae - Acuna's Epidendrum

Epidendrum acunae

Common Name: Acuna's Epidendrum

Native to: Florida, Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Epidendrum acunae is possibly extinct in Florida. In Mexico it is found in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Vera Cruz. This species prefers low-elevation tropical rainforest habitats from sea level to 1000 meters near water.

Plant Size: Large. Epidendrum acunae grows on trees and has a pendant or hanging habit. Stems are cane-like and have many leaves.

Flower Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Epidendrum acunae are produced on a short flower stem that grows an the top of the cane. Each growth produces one or two flowers.

Bloom Season: Summer

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Warm

Additional Information: This species has a dramatic, pendant habit and needs to be mounted on a large cork or wood mount. Provide warmth and humidity and even watering and fertilizer. Plants are large and can become impressive specimens. Epidendrum acunae was named in honor of a prominent Cuban engineer and orchid collector from the early 20th century.

Synonyms: Spathiger roigii

Encyclia tampensis - Butterfly Encyclia

Encyclia tampensis

Common Name: Butterfly Encyclia

Native to: Florida, Bahamas, Cuba. Its preferred habitat is moist woods and forests from sea level to 25 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small to Medium.

Flower Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm)

Flower Description: Sweetly fragrant flowers bloom on a simple or branched flower stem that grows to 30 inches (75 cm) tall. The flowers bloom above the leaves.

Bloom Season: Spring. Well-grown plants in the Florida keys bloom from June to September.

Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool (adaptable)

Additional Information: Encyclia tampensis is widespread, adaptable and easy-to-grow. There are a few different color forms available and the species is common in the trade. Encyclia tampense var amesiana is a pale color form that is found in Cuba. Grow mounted on cork bark or wood plaques and provide typical cattleya growing conditions. Many hobbyists grow this species on palm trees in their yards in south Florida.

Synonyms: Epidendrum porphyrospilum; Encyclia tampensis f. albolabia; Epidendrum tampense