Last time we posted the Brazilian national flower, Cattleya purpurata, we mentioned that it is wonderfully variable. The variety ‘venosa’ describes a range of plants with deeper pink flowers than are usually found.

We divided our plant of Cattleya purpurata ‘venosa’ two years ago and it is now well established and flowering well in a large basket hung in the roof of Warm Americas. Flowers are long lasting and held on strong spikes held clear of the long leave. We particularly enjoy getting a ‘bee’s eye view’ looking straight into the lip with its radial stripes leading us to the nectar.

Here is a reminder of the ‘carnea’ form

Cattleya purpurata is found as an epiphyte in open forest up to around 1000m where it experiences a warm wet summer and a cool dryer winter. With us it reliably flowers in between May and July.