Laelia lobata

Laelia lobata

Native to: Brazil. The few remaining wild plants of Laelia lobata grow on the surface of rocky cliffs facing the ocean near Rio de Janeiro.

Plant Size: Standard Cattleya size. Laelia lobata has cylindrical pseudobulbs that grows from a creeping rhizome. The plant has one long, leathery leaf that is held erect. The 16 inch flower spike produces 2 to 5 flowers.

Flower Size: 5 inches. (12.5 cm)

Flower Description: Fragrant. Cattleya-like flowers. The typical color form of Laelia lobata is lavender-purple with a dark amythyst lip with a yellow throat. The petals are broad and wavy.

Bloom Season: Spring or early summer

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Hot

Additional Information: Laelia lobata is endangered in the wild and all importation has been banned under CITES. Fortunately, the species is flourishing in private collections and can be purchased from orchid dealers.
Provide bright light with good air circulation. Water and fertilize heavily during the active growth. Provide less water during cooler months of the year. It has a reputation as a shy bloomer and prefers to be pot bound. Easy to grow and robust.

There is a white form available know as Laelia lobata var. alba. Several hybrids have used this species as one of the parents.

Synonyms: Bletia boothiana; Bletia lobata; Cattleya lobata; Hadrolaelia lobata; Laelia boothiana; Laelia grandis var purpurea; Laelia riveri; Laelia virens; Sophronitis lobata

Laelia jongheana

Laelia jongheana

Native to: Brazil. Laelia jongheana is found near the state of Minas Gerais. It grows in forests between 1300 and 1600 meters in elevation. This species has been overcollected in the wild is currently listed as endangered and is on the CITES I list.

Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs of Laelia jongheana are small and eliptical and have one oblong leathery leaf. The flower is protected by the developing leaf.

Flower Size: 4 to 6 inches (7-16 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia jongheana are lavender or pink with an attractive, ruffled golden lip.

Bloom Season: Late Winter, Spring

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: Laelia jongheana needs excellent drainage and thrives when mounted on cork or a tree fern slab. Provide ample water and fertilizer during active growth. Reduce water and fertilizer during the cool winter period when the plant rests. Provide bright indirect light to direct sunlight. The plant needs a lot of light to bloom well.

Synonyms: Bletia jongheana; Hadrolaelia jongheana; Sophronitis jongheana

Laelia grandis

Laelia grandis

Native to: Brazil. Laelia grandis grows in warm coastal areas near the bay of Todos os Santos in the state of Espirito Santo in tropical evergreen and deciduous forests. Laelia grandis grows high in the canopy of trees in its native habitat. Its habitat ranges from sea level to 200 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium to Large. Laelia grandis looks like unifoliate Cattleyas.

Flower Size: 4 to 5 inches (12-14 cm)

Flower Description: Fragrant. The flower color of Laelia grandis is a unique nankeen yellow color. The lip is tubular in shape, white in color with rose-purple veins. The petals are wavy and reflexed. The flower spike produces between two to five flowers. Flowers last two weeks.

Bloom Season: Spring, Summer. Blooms May-July in North America.

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Hot

Additional Information: Laelia grandis is closely related to Laelia purpurata, Laelia tenebrosa and Cattleya orchids and has large, attractive flowers. Fertilize and water when the new leads appears. Keep on the dry side after the flowers fade and resume when new growth resumes.

Synonyms:  ?

Laelia gracilis

Laelia gracilis
Native to: Brazil. Laelia gracilis grows on rocky ledges near the Serra do Cipo in the state of Minas Gerais. Rupicolous.
Plant Size: Small.
Flower Size: Small
Flower Description: The pale yellow flowers of Laelia gracilis are star-shaped with pointed petals and sepals. Flower stems grow to 45 cm tall and have five to seven pale flowers near the tip. The lip is wavy and the same color as the petals.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Intermediate to cool.
Additional Information: Laelia gracilis is not common and little is known about the species. Presumably, it can be grown like other rupicolous laelia species. Needs bright light and a drier winter rest.
Synonyms: Hoffmannseggella gracilis; Sophronitis gracilis

Laelia gouldiana

Laelia gouldiana

Native to: Mexico. Laelia gouldiana is found in the mountains of Hildaldo where it grows on trees. It may be extinct in the wild.

Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs of Laelia gouldiana have two to three long leaves. The flower spike grows to 30 inches long and flowers are displayed near the top.

Flower Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Flower Description: The lilac-pink to magenta flowers of Laelia gouldiana have wide flower segments for the genus. The lip is darker in color and has a white throat with dark veins. The flower spike bears up to 10 flowers.

Bloom Season: Fall, Winter

Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm

Additional Information: Laelia gouldiana is easy to grow. This is another fine Mexican Laelia species that does well mounted on cork or in pots. They grow well outdoors next to Cymbidiums in Southern California.
Synonyms: ?

Laelia gloedeniana

Laelia gloedeniana

Native to: Brazil. Rupicolous. Laelia gloedeniana is found growing in the mountains in the state of Espirito Santo at 1600 m in elevation.
Plant Size: Small. The pseudobulbs of Laelia gloedeniana grow to 25 cm tall and the leaf gows 30-50 cm long. The leaves are thick and robust and are green in color without red pigment.
Flower Size: 1 1/2 inches (5-6 cm)
Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia gloedeniana are yellow to pale yellow in color and are large for a rupicolous laelia.
Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring.
Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm
Additional Information: The culture of Laelia gloedeniana is the same as for other Brazilian rupicolous laelias. Provide bright light and good air circulation. There are albescens and alba forms in existence.
Synonyms: Hoffmannseggella gloedeniana; Sophronitis gloedeniana; Laelia macrobulbosa

Laelia ghillanyi

Laelia ghillanyi

Native to: Brazil. Rupicolous. Laelia ghillanyi grows wild in the state of Minas Gerais between Serra do Cipo and Conceicao do Mato Dentro between 1500 to 1600 meters in elevation on volcanic rock outcroppings.
Plant Size: Small. The stubby pseudobulbs of Laelia ghillanyi grow 5-7 cm tall and are wider at the base. Leaves are 10 to 15 cm long and is thick and fleshy. The foliage is green with a maroon coloration near the edges of the leaves and pseudobulbs.
Flower Size: 1 1/2 inches (4 cm)
Flower Description: Flowers of Laelia ghillanyi are magenta-purple with a pale or white lip. The flower stem grows to 4 inches (10 cm) barely grows above the foliage. The flower spike bears between 1 to 4 flowers.
Bloom Season: May to July
Growing Temperature: Cool to Intermediate
Additional Information: Culture is the same as for other Brazilian rupicolous laelias. Provide bright light and good air circulation. There are albescens and alba forms of Laelia ghillanyi in existence.
Synonyms: Hoffmannseggella ghillanyi; Sophronitis ghillanyi

Laelia garderi

Laelia garderi
Native to: Brazil. Laelia garderi is found at Mosteiro da Caraca in the state of Minas Gerais.
Plant Size: Small. Pseudobulbs and leaves of Laelia garderi reach about 4 inches (10 cm) in height. The flower spike grows to 12 inches (30 cm) in height.
Flower Size: Small
Flower Description: The flower color of Laelia garderi is a lavender-purple blush color with a frilly lip. The lip is all yellow. There are one to four flowers at the end of the stem.
Bloom Season: ???
Growing Temperature: Cool to intermediate
Additional Information: Laelia garderi is a rather rare rupicolous laelia species from Brazil. Grow like other rupicolous laelias.
Synonyms: Laelia longipes sensu

Laelia furfuracea

Laelia furfuracea

Native to: Mexico. Laelia furfuracea is found growing on oak trees in the mountains of Oxaxca between 2500 to 3000 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Miniture. The small (3-5 cm), ribbed, oval pseudobulbs of Laelia furfuracea have one stiff, leathery leaf that grows 5 to 12 cm long.

Flower Size: 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm)

Flower Description: Flower color of Laelia furfuracea is usually lavender-lilac to rose pink but a white form exists. The inflorescence reaches 12 inches (30 cm) tall and has between 3 to 5 flowers. Flowers are long-lived.

Bloom Season: Fall, Winter

Growing Temperature: Cool to intermediate

Additional Information: Laelia furfuracea is another fine Mexican Laelia species that does well mounted on cork or in pots. It needs a prolonged, dry winter rest with bright light and high humidity for best results. Laelia furfuracea and Laelia autumnalis share the similar habitats.

Synonyms: Amalia furfuracea; Bletia furfuracea; Cattleya furfuracea; Laelia autumnalis var. furfuracea

Laelia fournieri

Laelia fournieri

Native to: Brazil. Laelia fournieri grows in the state of Minas Gerais as a rupicolous plant on exposed cliffs around 1200 meters in elevation.
Plant Size: Miniture. The small, swollen pseudobulbs of Laelia fournieri have one stiff, erect leaf. The foliage is dark green with a redish color.
Flower Size: Very Small
Flower Description: The flower color of Laelia fournieri is sparkling white. The lip has a yellow blotch. The flowers bloom just above the foliage. There are 1 to 4 flowers per growth.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Intermediate
Additional Information: Laelia fournieri 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. Reportedly easy to flower. The plant will bloom in a 2 1/4 inch pot.
Synonyms: Hoffmannseggella fournieri; Laelia longipes var. fournieri; Sophronitis fournieri