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Orchidaceae
Cockleshell Orchid
Prosthechea cochleata
Unique elegance.
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Prosthechea
- Native to
- Central America, Caribbean, Florida, South America
- Bloom season
- Year-Round
- Type
- epiphyte
- Height
- 0.5-1.5 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- orchid bark, epiphytic mix
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The flower blooms upside down compared to most orchids, with the dark purple lip positioned at the top like a hood.
- Cockleshell orchid is the national flower of Belize, where it is known as the black orchid.
- Individual plants can bloom continuously for months, with sequential flowers opening one after another on the same spike.
- It is one of the easiest orchids to grow, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
- The shell-shaped lip gives the orchid its name, from the Latin 'cochlea' meaning snail shell.
Color meanings
0
rare beauty
1
distinction
2
refinement