Stelis pusilla

We have 32 different species of Stelis in our collection of 600 species and so over 5% of our orchids are Stelis. One of our smallest Stelis is Stellis pusilla. This species is widespread across the cloud forests of South America and is found in the Mountains of Venzuela and Colombis in the North down as far as Bolivia and South East Brazil. We have seen the species in Brazil growing in cloud forest in coastal rainforest and it was one of the Brazilian Stelis that first inspried us to grow and appreciate this wonderful genus.

Stelis pusilla is a tiny plant with neat leaves about 2cm long including their stalk. The flowers are comparitively large (for a stelis) and are 2mm across on a sparse little spikes hels well clear of the leaves. The flowers of the species are variable in colour which is not a surprise given its large natural range. Our clone has an attractive dark centre.

We keep plants well watered throughout the year and shaded. Like most of our tiny species we grow plants mounted where they show off their lovely growth habit.