Laelia flava

Laelia flava

Native to: Brazil. Laelia flava grows in the state of Minas Gerais near Serra do Piedade and Sierrado Frio between 800-1000 meters in elevation. Rupicolous.

Plant Size: Laelia flava is a variable species. Pseudobulbs grow to 10 cm tall and are strongly swollen at the base and tapered near the top. The stiff leaves grow to 15 cm long. The foliage is dark green and leathery with purplish colored underneath.

Flower Size: 2 to 2 1/2 inches

Flower Description: Laelia flava has brightly colored yellow, star-shaped flowers. Color ranges from yellow to pale yellow. Some individuals have small red spots near the base of the petals. The lip is frilly. The flower spike reaches 25 cm above the foliage and has 4 to 8 flowers near the tip.

Bloom Season: Spring and sometimes again in the Fall (repeat blooming). The main season is February to April with a secondary season in August to September.

Growing Temperature: Cool, Intermediate

Additional Information: Laelia flava needs a cool, dry winter rest period and an open, well-drained growing medium. Grow like other rupicolous laelia species. Provide very bright light and good air circulation.

Synonyms:  None

Laelia fidelensis

Laelia fidelensis

Native to: Brazil. Laelia fidelensis is found growing in the state of Rio de Janeiro in the Sao Fidelis mountains.
Plant Size: Small. Laelia fidelensis has laterally compressed pseudobulbs grow to 30 cm tall and have have one long, broad leaf at the top. New pseudobulbs grow 2-3 cm away from the last growth, so the plant tends to ramble a little. A short flower stalk bears two or more flowers.
Flower Size: 4 1/2 inches (12 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia fidelensis are lavender-pink to rose in color with a white throat on the lip. The color is generally darker at the tips with pronounced veining. One to four flowers develop on each stem. Well formed flower with a unique appearance.
Bloom Season: Summer
Growing Temperature: Cool,Intermediate
Additional Information: Grow Laelia fidelensis like a Cattleya. Bright light and good air circulation are required. Grow on a raft, mounted or in a coarse fir bark mix. Prefers moderate to high humidity and prefers daily misting during hot summer days. Easy to grow.
Synonyms: Hadrolaelia fidelensis; Sophronitis fidelensis

Laelia esalqueana

Laelia esalqueana

Native to: Brazil. Laelia esalqueana is found in the state of Minas Gerais around 1200 meters in elevation. Rupicolous.

Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs of Laelia esalqueana grow to 3 cm tall and are topped with 5 cm long thick, leathery leaves.

Flower Size: 3 cm

Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia esalqueana are yellow to pale yellow and have a pale yellow lip. The flower stalk is fairly short, growing only to 5 cm tall.

Bloom Season: Spring, early Summer.

Growing Temperature: Cool, Intermediate

Additional Information: Laelia esalqueana has been recently described to science and is uncommon in collections.
Synonyms: None.

Laelia endsfeldzii

Laelia endsfeldzii

Native to: Brazil. Laelia endsfeldzii is native to a limited area of the state of Minas Gerais near Itutinga. Rupicolous.
Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs of Laelia endsfeldzii grow to 10 cm long and are topped with 12 cm long leaves. The flower stalk towers 25 cm above the foliage.
Flower Size: 1 1/4 inches (3-4 cm)
Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia endsfeldzii are star shaped and yellow to pale yellow. The lip is the same color as the petals and ruffled at the edges. It produces few to several flowers that are widely spaced and near the tip of the inflorescence and open sequentially.
Bloom Season: Winter, Spring
Growing Temperature: Cool, Intermediate
Additional Information: Laelia endsfeldzii is closely related to Laelia mixta and Laelia blumenscheinii. Grow like other rupicolous laelias. Provide a prolonged, cool, dry rest period during the winter. Mist during dormancy.
Synonyms: Hoffmannseggella endsfeldzii; Sophronitis endsfeldzii

Laelia duveenii

Laelia duveenii

Native to: Brazil. Laelia duveenii is found growing near Serra do Cipo in Diamantina. Rupicolous.
Plant Size: Small. The compact pseudobulbs of Laelia duveenii grow 3.5 cm tall and have a single 4-7 cm long leaf. Foliage is dark green with a reddish flush. The flower stalk grows 5-7 cm above the foliage.
Flower Size: Small
Flower Description: The flower of Laelia duveenii is fragrant unlike most other rupicolous Laelia species. Color is rosy lilac pink with a beautiful white throat. Flower texture is crystaline and the flowers glisten in good light. There are 2 to 4 flowers per flower spike.
Bloom Season: November
Growing Temperature: Cool, Intermediate
Additional Information: Laelia duveenii is a recent discovery from Brazil and will become more popular with time due to its compact habit and beautiful flowers. Grow in an inorganic potting media just like other rupicolous laelias.
Synonyms: None

Laelia dayana

Laelia dayana

Native to: Brazil. Laelia dayana is found growing on lichen-covered trees in the Organ Mountains.
Plant Size: Small. Laelia dayana has compact cylidrical pseudobulbs produce one long, broad fleshy leaf. Compact growth.
Flower Size: 3 inches (7-9 cm)

Flower Description: Flower color of Laelia dayana ranges through various shades of violet with prominent dark striping boldly displayed on a white throat of the lip which is nicely formed. Each growth supports only one flower (very rarely two). The flower bud is protected by the emerging leaf and the plant flowers as the new growth matures. There are alba and coerulea flower forms available. Flower segments tend to reflex or cup and the flower may not open all the way.
Bloom Season: Fall
Growing Temperature: Cool, Intermediate, or Warm
Additional Information: Laelia dayana a curious species that is not often seen in collections. Needs bright light and good air circulation. Mount on cork or tree fern or grow in slatted baskets for optimal growth. Laelia dayana needs a cool, dry winter rest period. This species has been used by breeders to produce miniture cattleya hybrids. Laelia dayana readily adapts to being grown under lights indoors.
Laelia dayana 'Hartford' AM/AOS is an awarded lavender clone and is worth getting for your collection.
Synonyms: Hadrolaelia dayana; Laelia pumila subsp. dayana; Laelia pumila var dayana; Sophronitis dayana

Laelia crispilabia

Laelia crispilabia

Native to: Brazil. Laelia crispilabia is found in the Serra de Marinhos mountains on iron ore rock formations. Grows between 1000 and 1200 meters in elevation. Rupicolous.

Plant Size: Medium. Pseudobulbs of Laelia crispilabia are broad at the base and tapered near the top and have a narrow leaf at the top. The plant grows to 20 inches tall. Plants are gray-green in color. Foliage does not take on a reddish cast even when grown in maximum light.
Flower Size: 1 1/2 to 2 inches (4-6 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia crispilabia are lavender or sparkling pink and star-shaped. Lip is yellow in color and contrasts nicely with the flower. Attractive.

Bloom Season: Spring

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: Closely related to Laelia cinnabarina and often confused with Laelia mantiqueirae. Grow in an inorganic growing medium in clay pots. Grow like other rupicolous laelias. Laelia crispilabia has been used as a parent in many hybrids.

Synonyms: Bletia crispilabia; Hoffmannseggella crispilabia; Laelia cinnabarina var crispilabia; Laelia lawrenceana

Laelia crispata

Laelia crispata

Native to: Brazil. Laelia crispata is found in the state of Minas Gerais near Belo Horizonte. It grows on granite and sandstone slopes between 900-1700 meters in elevation where they are exposed to direct sun and cooling breezes.
Plant Size: Medium. The pseudobulbs of Laelia crispata are broad at the base and tapered near the top and have a narrow leaf at the top. The plant grows to 20 inches tall. Plants are gray-green in color. The flower spike is at least 3 times taller than the plant.
Flower Size: 1 1/2 to 2 inches (4-6 cm)
Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia crispata are usually lavender pink to cerise in color and attractive. The flower spike is tall and has up to 8 flowers clustered at the tip.
Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring
Growing Temperature: Intermediate
Additional Information: Laelia crispata has been referred to as both Laelia rupestris and Laelia crispata with the former name being more common. Grow in an inorganic growing medium in clay pots. Grow like other rupicolous laelias. This species has been used as a parent in many hybrids.
Synonyms: Amalia flava; Amalia fulva; Bletia rupestris; Cymbidium crispatum; Hoffmannseggella caetensis; Hoffmannseggella crispata; Hoffmannseggella rupestris; Laelia caetensis; Laelia fulva; Laelia rupestris; Sophronitis caetensis; Sophronitis crispata; Sophronitis mirandai

Laelia crispa

Laelia crispa

Native to: Brazil. Laelia crispa is common throughout its range. It is primarily found in Serra do Mar, which in Rio de Janeiro State is also called Serra dos Organos (Organ Mountains). Additionally, it is found within the city limits of Rio de Janeiro. It grows high up in trees or on cliffs facing away from the ocean. The main habitat is tropical rain forest above 400 meters in elevation where it grows on trees or rocky cliff faces.

Plant Size: Medium. Laelia crispa is very similar in appearance to Laelia lobata and Laelia purpurata. There is a tall, laterally compressed, grooved pseudobulb that grows about 12 inches (30 cm) tall with one long leaf. Overall, it looks like a unifoliate Cattleya.

Flower Size: 4 to 5 inches (10-12.5 cm)

Flower Description: Fragrant; Laelia crispa is one of the best! The attractive flower has heavily twisted and waved segments. Usually the lip does not open fully and has a triangular appearance when viewed from the front. The flower color ranges from white to very light purple. There is a fair amount of variation on the lip, which ranges from dark purple to wine-red on the front lobe, and white to dark yellow in the throat. Only one true alba form has been found. There are no coerulea (blue) forms known. It produces a large number of flowers per inflorescence (up to 10, 4-9 is typical). Flowers are long-lasting.

Bloom Season: Summer

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Hot

Additional Information: This species is often crossed with Cattleya orchids to create showy hybrids.
Grow it like Laelia purpurata. It needs very high levels of light and lots of air circulation to succeed. Many growers grow it in a hanging basket and hang it near the glass in the greenhouse to meet its need for light. Grow with warm temperatures in a well drained coarse media (lava rock or coarse fir bark). Some growers use clay pots for faster drying of the root zone. Water frequently (2-3 times a week during warm weather) during the growing season, less during the winter. Fertilize 3-4 times a month except during winter dormancy.
The seeds of Laelia crispa are very light and the species spreads quite easily even out of the rain forest. It can even be found growing on garden trees in the city.

Synonyms: Bletia crispa; Cattleya crispa; Cattleya reflexa; Hadrolaelia crispa; Sophronitis crispa

Laelia cinnabarina

Laelia cinnabarina

Native to: Brazil. Rupicolous. Laelia cinnabarina is found in the states of Minas Gerias, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro between the elevations of 800 to 1500 meters in the foothills.

Plant Size: Medium. The pseudobulbs of Laelia cinnabarina grow to 18 inches (45 cm) tall and cylindrical with swollen base. The base is covered in dried papery sheaths. There is one dark green, leathery, long leaf. Well-grown plants have a purple tint to the foliage when grown under ideal lighting.

Flower Size: 2 1/2 to 3 inches (6.25 cm)

Flower Description: Bright orange. open, star-shaped with narrow petals and sepals. Flower color varies from orange-yellow to bright orange. The flower stems grow to 2 feet (60 cm) long and have between 5 and 15 flowers.

Bloom Season: Spring

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Hot. Temperature tolerant.

Additional Information: Laelia cinnabarina has been widely used as a parent in modern Cattleya hybrids because of its clear, bright color.

Provide bright light and good air circulation. Water and fertilize heavily when new growth is developing. It is best grown in an open, inorganic potting medium under bright light and at intermediate temperatures.

Synonyms: Amalia cinnabarina; Amalias cinnabarina; Bletia cinnabarina; Bletia cinnabarina var. sellowii; Bletia cinnamomea; Cattleya cinnabarina; Hoffmannseggella cinnabarina; Laelia cinnamomea; Sophronitis cinnabarina