Cattleya orchids

Cattleya is the classical "corsage orchid", native to Central and South America from Costa Rica down to southern Brazil. The genus defines the "Cattleya alliance" of closely related genera (Laelia, Brassavola, Rhyncholaelia, Guarianthe, and the intergeneric hybrids they form; the former Sophronitis species have been part of Cattleya itself since 2008), and historically supplied most of the cut-flower market before Phalaenopsis took over. Large waxy flowers with a prominent frilled lip are the hallmark.

Classical standard Cattleyas produce one or two enormous blooms per pseudobulb and tend to be large plants. Modern breeding has produced compact "mini-Catt" hybrids that flower at a fraction of the size, making them viable for windowsill cultivation.

General care for the genus (species, hybrids and cultivars vary, so check with the grower for a specific plant): bright light (2,500 to 4,000 footcandles), intermediate to warm temperatures with a good day/night drop, dry between waterings, 50 to 70 percent humidity, excellent airflow. Medium to coarse fir bark. Cattleyas reward bright light with strong flowering and punish low light with weak or absent spikes.

Famous species include Cattleya walkeriana, Cattleya trianae (the national flower of Colombia), Cattleya warscewiczii, Cattleya labiata, and Cattleya mossiae. Hybrids such as Cattlianthe Chocolate Drop (a Cattleya guttata × Guarianthe aurantiaca primary, once sold as Cattleya Chocolate Drop) and Rhyncholaeliocattleya Memoria Helen Brown (older tags: Blc.) are widely grown. Listings below come from the nurseries we index, most of them re-checked nightly; prices are shown in USD.