Cattleya Orchids: The Captivating Corsage Orchids

Cattleya orchid, with its showy flowers and delicate frills, has inspired many people to venture into growing orchids either as a form of therapeutic hobby or as a lucrative profession.

Dubbed as the queen orchid, Cattleyas are also fondly called as “corsage orchids,” because of the fact that women used to wear them as a floral accessory for special events in previous times. Today these fancy, fuss-free, and sometimes fragrant blooms are one of our top-selling orchid plants that most clients love to have at home.

CATTLEYA ORCHIDS FAST FACTS

Botanical Name: Cattleya(pronounced as CAT-lee-ah)
Popular nicknames: Corsage orchids, queen orchid
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Blooming: Produces one new flush annually or bi-annually, usually in spring until fall depending on variety
Recognized orchid species: 46 to 53
Classification: Sympodial, epiphytic, lithophytic

CATTLEYA ORCHID ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Man’s earliest encounter with the captivating orchid we know today as Cattleya can be traced back as early as 1818. Dr. W. T- Hooker had flowered a similar orchid species in his greenhouse in Suffolk, England, although he doesn’t have any published work about it then.

Almost during that same year, William Swainson, an English moss and lichen collector, gathered random leaves in the forests of Organ Mountains, about 60 miles north of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, to use as protective packing material for his important specimens.

Somehow William Cattley, an aficionado of orchid horticulture and one of the first amateur collectors of exquisite exotic orchids during that time, reached some of Swainson’s foraging and decided to grow them – one of it is a novel orchid species about to be named after him.

When his showy orchid plant bloomed in November 1823, samples were sent to distinguished orchidologist, Dr. John Lindley, for further studies, who wrote about it afterward in his paper, COLLECTANEA BOTANICA, t. 33 (1824), establishing a new orchid genus named Cattleya labiate, after its successful grower.

Through the years numerous Cattleya orchid varieties have been identified and countless orchid hybrids have been created.

CATTLEYA ORCHID PLANT DESCRIPTION

The book Orchids of Asia by Eng-Soon Teoh describes and talks about the parts of the Cattleya thoroughly.

Its delicate flower has narrow sepals that are identical. The top is called the dorsal sepal while the two other ones spread sideways on either side of the lip are called lateral sepals. Aside from the sepals, a Cattleya orchid has three broad-shaped petals. The most unique of the three is called the lip or labellum, which has three lobes. The midlobe of a Cattleya orchid’s lip is such a beauty, because it’s usually colorful, curly, and has frills around its edges.

Experts split Cattleya orchids into two groups:

Unifoliate Cattleya Orchids – Sometimes referred to as the labiata group, they have only one big leaf per pseudobulb, have huge flowers accentuated by a prominently large lip, and were the first Cattleya orchids brought to Europe. C.labiata is the best-known species of this group. C. mossiae, C. mendellii, C. warscewiczii, C. dowiana, and C. percivaliana also fall under this category.
Bifoliate Cattleya Orchids – This group has two or sometimes three fleshy, flattened elliptic leaves per pseudobulb, with flowers blooming in clusters of five to as many as 20 per stem, usually yellow or lavender. C. bicolor, C. amethystoglossa, C. elongata, and C. harrisoniana are from this group.

While we’re most familiar with the soft, delicate types, Cattleya orchids are, as a matter of fact, tough, waxy, and thick in texture. They come in various patterns and a rainbow of colors – including different shades of pink, white, red, purple, and yellow.

CATTLEYA ORCHID VS. LAELIA ORCHIDS

Cattleya orchids and Laelia orchids look like identical twins, it’s sometimes hard to tell them apart.

While orchid books say they’re a separate orchid genus, the American Orchid Society in one of their articles explained that the genus Cattleya is a prominent member of the larger grouping of genera known as the subtribe Laelieae.

But allow us to save you some headaches. First of all, Cattleya orchids only have four polinia while Laelia orchids have eight. Laelia orchids, although equally dainty and vibrantly colored, have smaller flowers, with narrower petals and sepals.

Leilia orchids are epiphytic (aerial) or lithophytic (on stones). Cattleya orchids are sympodial, epiphytic. We’ll elaborate on that when we discuss its classification according to growing behaviors.

Interestingly, there are hybrids of these two gorgeous orchid genus aptly named Laeliacattleya, which have beautiful bi-colored varieties.

CATTLEYA ORCHID SPECIES AND HYBRIDS

The World Checklist of Monocotyledons currently acknowledges 46 species and 35 natural hybrids of Cattleya orchids.

Cattleya aclandiae Lindl. 1840
Subgenus: Aclandia Withner 1989

Cattleya aclandiae f. alba (L.C.Menezes) F.Barros & J.A.N.Bat. 2004
Cattleya aclandiae var. alba L.C.Menezes 2002
Cattleya aclandiae var. grandiflora F.Buyss. 1878
Cattleya aclandiae var. salmonea auct. 1893
Cattleya aclandiae var shilleriana Jenn. 1875
Cattleya acuensis (Fowlie) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya acuminata Beer 1854
Cattleya alagoensis (V.P.Castro & Chiron) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya alaorii (Brieger & Bicalho) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya alaorii f. dietliana (O.Gruss) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya albida Beer 1854 Cattleya alexandrae Linden & Rolfe 1892
Cattleya alexandrae var. elegans Rolfe 1892
Cattleya alexandrae var. maculata auct.1895
Cattleya alexandrae var. rosea auct. 1895
Cattleya alexandrae var. tenebrosa Rolfe 1892
Cattleya alutacea Barb.Rodr. 1881
Cattleya alutacea var. velutina Barb.Rodr.1882

Cattleya alvarenguensis (Campacci) Van den Berg 2014

Cattleya alvaroana (F.E.L.Miranda) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya amabilis B.S.Williams 1862
Cattleya amethestina C. Morr. 1848
Cattleya amethystina C. Morr. 1848

Cattleya amethystoglossa Linden & Rchb.f. ex Warner 1862
Subgenus: Aclandia Withner 1989

Cattleya amethystoglossa var. alba L.C.Menezes & Braem 2006
Cattleya amethystoglossa var. lilacina (Rchb.f.) Fowlie 1977
Cattleya amethystoglossa var. rosea Rolfe 1892
Cattleya amethestoglossa Linden & Rchb.f var sulphurea Rchb.f
Cattleya anceps [Lindl.] Beer 1854
Cattleya angereri (Pabst) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya aquinii Barb. Rodr. 1891

Cattleya araguaiensis Pabst 1967
Subgenus: Stellata Withner 1988

Cattleya araguaiensis f. alba (L.C.Menezes) Christenson 1996
Cattleya araguaiensis var. alba L.C.Menezes 1991
Cattleya arembergii Scheidw. 1843
Cattleya aucklandiae Heynh. 1841
Cattleya auclandii Beer 1854

Cattleya aurantiaca [Bateman ex Lindley]P.N.Don 1840
Subgenus: Circumvola SECTION Aurantiacae Withner 1989
Cattleya aurea Linden 1883
Subgenus: Cattleya SECTION Xantheae Withner 1988

Cattleya autumnalis Beer 1854
Cattleya autumnalis O'Brien 1888
Cattleya bassetii A.H.Kent in H.J.Veitch 1887
Cattleya batalinii Sander & Kraenzl. 1892
Cattleya bicalhoi Van den Berg 2008

Cattleya bicolor Lindley 1836
Subgenus: Schomburgkoidea Withner 1989

Cattleya bicolor f. alba (Fowlie) F.Barros & J.A.N.Bat. 2004
Cattleya bicolor subsp. brasiliensis Fowlie 1977
Cattleya bicolor subsp. canastrensis L.C.Menezes & Braem 1992
Cattleya bicolor subsp. minasgaerensis Fowlie 1977
Cattleya bicolor var. caerulea auct. 1894
Cattleya bicolor var. grossii (Kraenzl.) Pabst 1972
Cattleya bicolor var. lewisii auct. 1896
Cattleya bicolor var. mearuresiana B.S.Williams 1888
Cattleya bicolor var. olocheilos Klinge 1898
Cattleya bicolor var. splendida Rchb.f 1857
Cattleya bicolor var. wrigleyana Rchb.f. 1885
Cattleya blumenscheinii (Pabst) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya bluntii H.Low 1876
Cattleya bogotensis Linden ex C. Morr. 1865

Cattleya bowringiana Veitch 1885
Subgenus: Circumvola SECTION Moradae

Cattleya bradei (Pabst) Van den Berg 2008

Cattleya × brasiliensis Klinge 1898

Cattleya brevicaulis (H.G.Jones) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya brevipedunculata (Cogn.) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya briegeri (Blumensch. ex Pabst) Van den Berg 2008

Cattleya × britoi (K.G.Lacerda & V.P.Castro) Van den Berg 2010

Cattleya brownii Rolfe 1894

Cattleya × brymeriana Rchb.f. 1883

Cattleya brysiana Lemaire 1852-3
Cattleya bulbosa Lindley 1847
Cattleya bullieri D.J. Carr 1886
Cattleya buyssoniana O'Brien 1890

Cattleya caetensis (Pabst) Van den Berg 2010

Cattleya × calimaniana Campacci 2007
Cattleya candida [Kunth] Lehm. 1895
Subgenus: Cattleya SECTION Cattleya Lindley

Cattleya candida hort. 1851
Cattleya candida B.S.Williams 1852
Cattleya candida F.N.Williams 1851
Cattleya carrieri Houller. 1876
Cattleya casperiana Rchb.f

Cattleya × cattleyioides (A.Rich.) Van den Berg 2010

Cattleya caucaensis Ballif. 1901
Cattleya caulescens (Lindl.) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya cernua [Lindley]Beer 1854
Cattleya cernua (Lindl.) ined
Cattleya chlorantha (Hook.) Beer 1854
Cattleya chocoensis Linden 1870
Cattleya chrysotoxa (Sander) God.-Leb. 1890
Cattleya cinnabarina [Batem. ex Lindl.] Beer 1854
Cattleya cinnabarina (Bateman ex Lindl.) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya coccinea Lindley 1836
Cattleya coccinea subsp. pygmaea (Pabst) W.Forst. 2013
Cattleya coccinea var. rossiteriana (Barb.Rodr.) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya colnagoi (Chiron & V.P.Castro) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya conceicionensis (V.P.Castro & Campacci) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya concolor Drapiez 1840
Cattleya × crethus auct. 1901
Cattleya crispa Beer 1854
Cattleya crispa var. buchananiana B.S.Williams & T.Moore 1883
Cattleya crispa var. purpurea Guidon 1858
Cattleya crispata (Thunb.) Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya × cristinae (F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg 2010
Cattleya crocata Rchb.f 1886
Cattleya cupidon Linden & Rodigas. 1894
Cattleya dawsoni Warn. 1862

Cattleya × dayana Rolfe 1902

Cattleya deckeri Klotsch 1855
Cattleya decora Beer 1854

Cattleya diamantinensis (V.P.Castro & Marçal) J.M.H.Shaw 2013

Cattleya dichotoma[Ruiz & Pavon]Beer 1854
Cattleya dichroma Van den Berg 2008
Cattleya digbyana (Lindl.) Gentil 1907
Cattleya dijanceana Rolfe 1902

Cattleya x dolosa [Rchb.f] Rchb.f 1876
Subgenus: Intermedia [Cogn.] Withner 1989

Cattleya domingensis Lindley 1833

Cattleya dormaniana (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1882
Subgenus: Laelioidea [Fowlie] Withner 1988

Cattleya dormaniana f. alba (L.C.Menezes) Christenson 1996
Cattleya dormaniana var. alba L.C.Menezes 1991

Cattleya dowiana Bateman & Rchb.f 1886
Subgenus: Cattleya SECTION Xantheae Withner 1988

Cattleya dowiana f. carmoniana Pupulin 2015
Cattleya dowiana f. marmorata (auct.) Pupulin 2015
Cattleya dowiana f. rosita (Pfau) Pupulin 2015
Cattleya dowiana subsp. aurea (Linden) Pupulin 2015
Cattleya dowiana var aurea Will & Moore 1883
Cattleya dowiana var. aurea-alba Cogn. 1897
Cattleya dowiana var. aurea-marmorata auct. 1896
Cattleya dowiana var. chrysotaxa Sander 1890
Cattleya dowiana var. rosita Pfau 1895
Cattleya dupontii Ruschi 1970
Cattleya duveenii (Fowlie) Van den Berg 2008

Cattleya × duveenii Pabst & A.F.Mello 1977

Cattleya edithiana Williams 1862
Cattleya elatior Lindley 1833
Cattleya eldorado Linden 1890
Cattleya eldorado var. splendens Linden ex B.S.Williams 1871
Cattleya eldorado var. wallisii (Linden) E.S.Rand 1892
Cattleya elegantissima Linden 1881

CATTLEYA ORCHIDS ARE SYMPODIAL

Sympodial in Latin literally translates to “many-footed.” It describes the spreading growth behavior of orchids that are outward along the surface of the growing medium and with its stems, otherwise called rhizomes, moving horizontally. New shoots appear on the rhizome where they grow out their own roots. The flowers, on the other hand, may bloom from the base of the plant, normally from between the leaves or the base of a newly matured pseudobulb.

Cattleya orchids are classified as sympodial type. In the wild or in their natural habitat, Cattleya orchids can be seen blooming from the raw, rough bark of trees with stems and pseudobulbs thriving outward and upward.

If you’ve seen a mature cattleya orchid plant in a pot, either from orchid gardens, at the florists, or of your own, you’ve perhaps noticed that (unless, of course, repotting to a bigger container is done occasionally), it tends to grow wildly around the surface, with roots even cracking terra cotta pots.

CATTLEYA ORCHIDS IN LOS ANGELES

Around the world, Cattleya orchids are found naturally only in most countries in the Western Hemisphere. They are frequently seen growing side by side or nearby Laelias in major parts of tropical America:

Mexico and Guatemala
South America, from Colombia to British Guiana
Coastal provinces of Southern Brazil

These days, many Cattleya orchid hybrids can adapt in tropical Asian countries, such as Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. We bet The Orchidarium inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a couple hundred species to boast of.

To get your Cattleya orchid fix in Los Angeles, all you need is a visit at the impressive orchidariums and botanical gardens around town, which offers breathtaking views of its vast orchid collection to the public. Free up one weekend and schedule a day trip to one of these orchid gardens in L.A.:

The Arboretum of Los Angeles County
Descanso Gardens
South Botanic Garden

But if you wish to have your own Cattleya orchid blooming for your personal viewing pleasure, we highly recommend you check out Orchid Republic’s stunning orchid arrangements collection. Located conveniently in the heart of Studio City, Orchid Republic offers flower delivery anywhere in Los Angeles and Orange County.

CATTLEYA ORCHID CARE

Bringing home a Cattleya orchid plant? Check out these quick maintenance tips.

Cattleya orchid loves light. Put in a spot that gets ample amount of morning light, without getting burned. Somewhere near windows with sheer curtains would be nice.
Fertilize your Cattleya orchid in minute amounts at least every two weeks.
Water thoroughly whenever potting material is dry to the touch, preferably in the morning to allow roots to dry and prevent rotting.

Sources:

Orchids of Asia, Eng-Soon Teoh, 2005
Ortho’s All About Orchids, Elvin McDonald, 1999
Jay's Internet Orchid Species