Sobralia macrantha
Sobralia macrantha is found from Mexico to Costa Rica where it grows as a terrestrial in leaf litter, and its massive flowers are matched by the plant with thin canes that grow to a height of around 1.5m with alternate dark green tough leaves. The terminal flowers open successively over a period of several weeks. The flowers are fragrant but only last two to three days, but they make up for their brief flowering with the impact of the giant blooms.
The lip of flowers have a charming creased look from being all folded up in the bud but when fully open the flowers are about 20cm across and 25cm from top to bottom.
We grow our plant in a large pot of bark and replicate the natural habitat in Central America by growing it in our bedroom near a south facing velux balcony. The plant gets lots of light and warm temperatures throughout the year.Â
The plant is really attractive when just in leaf with its long canes of grey green leaves.