Peristeria elata is a large epiphytic orchid from Central and northern South America, prized for its white, dove-shaped flowers that bloom in summer. It grows best in a warm, humid, bright spot with a rest period after flowering.
Family
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Grows as
Orchid
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Water freely while growing, then reduce sharply during the dry rest period after pseudobulbs mature.
Soil
Chunky, free-draining epiphytic mix of bark and charcoal, or a basket with sphagnum.
Temperature
18–29 °C; protect below 15 °C
How easy
Moderate
Native range
C. America to Venezuela and Ecuador
Climate
wet tropical
About
Peristeria elata is a species of orchid occurring from Central America to Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. It is the type species of its genus. It is commonly referred to as the Holy Ghost orchid, dove orchid, or flower of the Holy Spirit in English, and, as the flor del Espiritu Santo in Spanish.
Where it grows
The epiphyte is found in Central and north-western South America and South India; it ranges from Costa Rica to Peru.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Peristeria elata 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.