The Cattleya Orchid (Cattleya spp.) occurs naturally throughout Central and South America and belongs to the largest plant family in the world, Orchidaceae. The Cattleya genus is considered by many to embody the romanticised appearance of an orchid, and is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of Orchids.’
The flowers born by the ‘Queen of the Orchids’ are some of the most lustrous flowers in the world, with large petals and frilly lips (labellum). The colours of the blossom can vary from lavender to deep reds, and whites, and vary in size and shapes. These orchids are epiphytes and have well-developed water storage organs called pseudobulbs and large fleshy roots. The plants are long-lived perennials and will usually flower annually but will take up to three to four years before their first blossom, and the showy flowers can last up to a month.
Though the Orchid is named after the British naturalist, William Cattleya, it was another plant collector William Swainson who first brought the
