Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Easter Orchid, Mrs. Moss' Cattleya, Cattleya de Pascua

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)

Distribution: N Venezuela

Habitat: Dense forests high in canopy; 900-1500m

Life form: Epiphytic

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): April to July; peaks in May and June

Bloom characteristics: Inflorescence is 8-12" (20-30 cm) long with 2-7 flowers of varing color form. Flowers are 5-8" (12.7-20 cm) across.

Fragrance: Fragrant

Foliage characteristics: Unifoliate

Ethnobotanical uses: This is the national flower of Venezuela.

Pollination syndrome: Probably bee

Plant size: 14-20" x 6-10" (36-51 x 15-25 cm)

Description: At one point one of the most important orchids to the commercial horticulture industry, Cattleya mossiae first flowered in the collection of the English orchid enthusiast Mrs. Moss in 1836. C. mossiae became very popular for its very large, beautiful flowers and ease to grow. In the early 1900s, it was at the peak of its popularity as a beautiful cut flower for Easter, Mother’s Day, and spring graduations and dances. After the 1950s, as the cattleya craze began to die down, the incredible collecting tole put on this orchid in the wild began to ease after more than a century of demand. However, it remains popular in local markets, and this orchid is still in danger of disappearing. There is still a lot that is unknown about this orchid in the wild.
C. mossiae was made the national flower of Venezuela in 1951, truly a complement considering the vast array of floral beauty of the country.

Comments: Cattleya mossiae