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Cattleya purpurata

Cattleya purpurata
Photo: The original uploader was Cs california at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0

Cattleya purpurata is a Brazilian epiphytic orchid that grows on tree branches in coastal forest canopy and is widely grown for its large, fragrant flowers. It does best with bright light and cool to warm conditions, and it is considered relatively easy to cultivate.

Family
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Grows as
Tree, Epiphyte, Orchid
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Water thoroughly when the potting medium is nearly dry, and let it dry slightly between waterings; reduce water in winter.
Soil
Free-draining orchid bark or a coarse epiphyte mix.
Temperature
15–28 °C; protect below 10 °C.
How easy
Easy
Native range
SE. & S. Brazil
Climate
seasonally dry tropical

About

Cattleya purpurata, known in the past as Laelia purpurata and Sophronitis purpurata, is native to Brazil where it is very popular among orchid growers. It is an epiphyte that is found in the canopy of tall trees near coastal areas, in the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The orchid favors bright light and cool to warm conditions and is relatively easy to cultivate. C. purpurata has been used extensively as a parent in hybridizing with Cattleyas. Cattleya purpurata blooms from late spring to fall with three to five flowers on a spike. The flowers are long-lasting and fragrant.

How to grow it

C. purpurata f. alba; white lip, sepals and petals

C. purpurata f. carnea; pink lip, white sepals and petals

Other Cattleya plants

Lady Ackland's Cattleya · Cattleya labiata · Largest Cattleya · Cattleya

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cattleya purpurata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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