Flor de Mayo Cattleya trianae

Christmas orchid is a tropical, epiphytic herbaceous perennial in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is endemic to the rainforests of Colombia. The species was named after the 19th-century Colombian botanist José Jeronimo Triana. The species is threatened by habitat destruction.

The cultural conditions for the Christmas orchid are the same as for other cattleya orchids. 

The Christmas orchid is a unifoliate cattleya, meaning it has just one leaf per pseudobulb. It produces flowers on pseudobulbs formed during the previous growing season and after a period of rest. Christmas orchid is naturally variable in color. Some have pinkish flowers while others are blue to lavender. White forms with contrasting lips also exist. Numerous color forms and varieties have been named, but these are no longer treated as distinct from the species. The Christmas orchid in its many forms has been used extensively in hybridization and often imparts vigor and a small lip to its hybrid offspring, as well as a strong tendency toward winter flowering. Christmas orchid is the national flower of Columbia. 

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: If kept outside, the plant may be attacked by slugs, snails, thrips, scale insects and mealybugs. Search the plant periodically for spider mites. They can be problematic when the humidity is too low.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Cattleya.