Stanhopea orchids

Stanhopea is a New World genus of around sixty species, native from Mexico through Central America and into South America. The genus is unusual for producing downward-facing inflorescences: flower spikes emerge from the base of the pseudobulbs and grow directly downward, meaning Stanhopeas must be cultivated in slat baskets or open-bottomed containers to allow the flowers to hang below the plant. Flowers are large, often heavily marked in purples and yellows, and intensely fragrant — some species smell of chocolate, vanilla, or menthol.

The flowers are short-lived, typically opening for only three to five days. Stanhopea growers time their visits to the greenhouse carefully during spike development to avoid missing the bloom.

General care for the genus (species, hybrids and cultivars vary, so check with the grower for a specific plant): intermediate to warm temperatures (nights 15 to 18 °C), bright indirect light (2,000 to 2,800 footcandles), high humidity (60 to 75 percent), regular heavy watering during growth, brief drying between. Absolutely must be grown in open-bottomed baskets or teak slat containers with sphagnum or coarse bark.

Species include Stanhopea tigrina, Stanhopea oculata, Stanhopea wardii, Stanhopea jenischiana, and Stanhopea graveolens. Listings below come from the nurseries we index, most of them re-checked nightly; prices are shown in USD.