# Cattleya Orchid (*Cattleya*)

Cattleya Orchids are known for their large, showy flowers that come in wonderful colors. They're often called the 'queen of orchids'!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tropical forests
- **Also known as:** Cattleya, Corsage Orchid

![Cattleya Orchid](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426561/objects/4942.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cattleya Orchid has incredibly large, vibrant flowers often in shades of purple, pink, white, or yellow. Its most striking feature is a prominent, ruffled 'lip' or labellum, which often has contrasting colors and intricate patterns, making it visually distinct.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Orchidaceae
- **Genus:** Cattleya

## Interesting facts

- A single Cattleya plant can live for over 100 years!
- Some Cattleya orchids smell like vanilla or citrus!
- These orchids were once so rare, only the very wealthy owned them.
- They are called the "Queen of Orchids" for their majestic blooms.

## Special abilities

- **Water Warehouse:** Cattleya Orchid has thick, swollen pseudobulbs that store water, helping it survive dry periods in its rainforest home.
- **Air Roots:** Cattleya Orchid uses specialized aerial roots to cling to trees and absorb moisture and nutrients directly from humid air.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Cattleya Orchid's large, fragrant, and colorful flowers act as a powerful beacon, guiding specific insect pollinators.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-20 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Variable, often late winter to spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Green Orchid Bee (*Euglossa viridissima*) — This iridescent bee is lured by the orchid's unique fragrance.
- **Symbiotic with:** Tulasnella Fungus (*Tulasnella calospora*) — Orchid seeds need this microscopic fungus to sprout and develop.
- **Shelter:** Kapok Tree (*Ceiba pentandra*) — Cattleya orchids often grow epiphytically on large rainforest trees.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cattleya Orchid?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Cattleya Orchid?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Cattleya Orchid spread?

30-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Cattleya Orchid?

10-20 cm

### When does Cattleya Orchid bloom?

Variable, often late winter to spring

### Is Cattleya Orchid edible?

No

### Is Cattleya Orchid toxic?

None

### What is Cattleya Orchid's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cattleya Orchid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattleya-orchid)