Laelia anceps

Laelia anceps produces large flowers and on strong spikes 80cm long with three to six flowers on a spike. The species is native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras where it grows in pine oak forest and coffee plantations from 500-1500m altitude. The wide distribution of the species and its relatively harsh habitat help to explain the ease with which the plant grows in cultivation and its tolerance of both high temperatures in the summer and cool temperatures in the winter. The wide distribution also gives rise to a wide variety of forms some of which are shown here.

We grow the species cool in our Himalayan greenhouse min 7C where it is very happy amongst Cymbidiums and Coelogynes from Asia. We grow plants in large baskets by preference which allows room for their expensive roots and prevents them being to damp in the winter. Plants also do fine in pots.

We water plants well when in growth during the summer and give them lots of light in the roof of the greenhouse.

Lealia anceps plants can be very long lived and several of our clones are historic including the smaller pink flowered clones which were given to us by the wonderful orchid grower and writer Joyce Stewart in the 1990s