Cattleya purpurata forma carnea (3.5” pot seedling)

New! This is one of the more easily grown large-flowered cattleya species that also comes in numerous color forms. So many, that in its native Brazil, there are entire orchid societies whose members grow only different varieties of Cattleya purpurata. The carnea form is one of the most prized for is large pristine white flowers with bright reddish pink shading on the lip. It also has a magnificent fragrance with hints of anise. Its bloom season is in May or June under most growing conditions (northern hemisphere) and is met with much anticipation each year. While these plants need a couple of years to reach flowering size, once they reach that age, the buds emerge almost overnight from long sheaths on to the most recently matured pseudobulbs and can come in clusters of 5 or 6 on mature plants. It also branches freely at the rhizome so that mature plants can flower from multiple locations each year. We have had one older plant produce as many as 60 flowers at once, each 6 to 8 inches across. Coming from the coastal region starting just east of Rio de Janeiro and extending 700 miles down to near the border of Uruguay, C. purpurata can tolerate anything form near freezing to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with a preference for bright light and rapidly draining growing medium. While not a small plant, it rewards the space it takes up with a stunning show of blooms each year. These were just stepped up to 3.5” pots in spring of 2026.