Maxillaria meleagris

Maxillaria meleagris is an easy fast growing species with stunning flowers on short stems. Every spring the long lasting flowers add interest to greenhouse and visitors are fascinated by the black lip on this dramatic orchid which we have found is attractive to wasps.

Maxillaria preastans is native to Mexico and Central America is found between 1500 and 2500m altitude in humid evergreen forest. We find that it grows well both cool and warm as long as it is kept well watered throughout the year. We grow this species in baskets and pots in our 'Cloud Forest Glasshouse' minimum 12C and indoors where it is warmer.

Single flowers are produced from the base of bulbs in spring and are large and showy. Several flowers are produced from each bulb over a period of a few months making this a straight forward and rewarding species to grow.  Plants quickly form specimen plants with several growths and masses of their attractive long lasting flowers.