Masdevallia glandulosa

Masdevallia species share similar geometry with their three fused sepals forming a triangular flower but the genus is remarkably divers in colour and detail. Masdevallia glandulosa is extraordinary in the bright pink warts (glandular pubescence in botanical speak) produced all over the inside of the sepals like hundreds of spherical blisters (only nicer than that sounds!)

Masdevallia glandulosa is native to Peru and Ecuador where it is reported growing in forests from 1200-1800m and so it is happy in our cloud forest greenhouse (min 12C) but would also grow warmer. The natural habitat has a dryer winter and wetter summer but we find that plants enjoy being well watered tghroughout the year. In common with a lot of orchids the species flowers in the winter dry season when its stunning flowers are a wonderful treat on a cold, grey December day.