Laelia rubescens

Laelia rubescens flowering in the Fuqua Orchid Center

Laelia rubescens is a lovely orchid native to seasonally dry forests in Mexico and Central America. Our plants grow happily alongside Laelia purpurata and Laelia anceps in our warm greenhouse. Many of the Mexican laelias from dry upland (1600 m+)  oak forests do poorly for us on account of our hot night temperatures in spring and summer. Fortunately Laelia rubescens ranges a bit lower--sea level to 1600 m. It doesn't mind the heat at all.