Peristeria elata

Other Genera Species

Originally published in The Florida Orchidist

Posted by Sys Admin almost 12 years ago.


This article references Per. elata.
Article Blog   Article Index

This plant has long been one of my favourites. It is a terrestrial and loves warm growing conditions. It is the national flower of Panama where it grows as a terrestrial in loamy soil and humus pockets among rocks. Cultural notes suggest that it prefers hot conditions with 30-50% light. It grows exceptionally well in North Queensland conditions with little attention to cultural niceties. The plant grows with an enormous egg shaped pseudobulb which on my mature plants have been 12 to 15 cm across and 15 to 20 cm high. The long arching single leaf is about 15 cm wide at the middle tapering at each end. The leaf has many transverse corrugations that remind you of the immature growth on palm leaves.

The flower spike can be two metres in length. The spike emerges from the base of the bulb like a new growth. The flowers are brilliant white and have a hard waxy texture. They are cup shaped and can be 5cm across. If you look through the opening of the flower the column and lip combined is shaped like a dove looking back at you and has reddish spotting. Hence a common name the Dove orchid. These flowers last from three to seven days each and flower consecutively up the spike. My plant has twenty flowers opened or in bud. This should mean a flowering period of two months.

The thing I like most about this orchid is the perfume. In the middle of the day it has a most pleasant heady aroma. It is quite spicy and appealing.

These plants like moist growing conditions. If you can’t provide the warmth it won’t flower. I have found from bitter experience the difficulties in growing in Brisbane. I grow in good quality potting mix. Slugs are particularly fond of the new tips of the large roots. For years I had a mature plant that survived without thriving. I decided to repot and found every new root had a couple of fat juicy slugs suckling on the end. I now take steps to deter the slugs. The plants are susceptible to sunburn. I grow mine under fifty percent shade.

Share on Social Media:  
Log in to Add a Comment

New Topics

  1. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
  2. Nicholas Filannino asked question Phalaenopsis William Kistler? in category General Discussion
  3. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
  4. Juliann Eckhard started topic Cattleya little susie in category Cattleya Alliance
  5. Shannon Gardea asked question NELLY ISLER in category General Discussion

New Comments

  1. Louis Wilson commented on member plant E. alata f. alba by Louis Wilson
  2. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Phal. amabilis var. formosanum by Vickie Seibert
  3. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Rlc. Green Dragoon 'Mendenhall' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  4. Danielle Carbonneau commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  5. Barry J Silver commented on orchid Lyon. SunCoast Pink Passion
  6. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Phalaenopsis William Kistler?" by Nicholas Filannino
  7. Carol Holdren commented on orchid Colm. Eric Gabriel Heines
  8. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Cattleya little susie" by Juliann Eckhard
  9. Carol Holdren commented on member plant Bc. Morning Glory by Chris Siolo
  10. R .Benson commented on member plant Kir. New Hybrid (Fred Clarke) SVO9831 by R .Benson
  11. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Blooming Stenglottis Venus “jamboree “" by John Urey
  12. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Cobalt' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  13. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Sns. gemmata by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  14. Stefan Neher commented on topic "Orchid roots .com site?" by Mary Lane
  15. Kevin Barry commented on member plant Bul. Tammie Sue Pernas by Tony Pernas
  16. Linda Hartman commented on member plant Ctt. Final Blue by Linda Hartman
  17. Kevin Bergeson commented on member plant Paph. rothschildianum by Kevin Bergeson
  18. Carol Holdren commented on topic "recently purchased orchid shows unstoppable roots " by David George
  19. Michael Makio commented on orchid V. Beatrice Makio
  20. Carol Holdren commented on topic "shorter stem with less vigorous blooms" by katherine mott