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Sobralia |
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Sobralia is a handsome and diverse terrestrial genus made up of species that range in size from small (less than 12 inches) to gigantic (more than 20 feet tall). Most are "one day wonders", producing flowers sequentially over several to many days with each flower lasting a day. There are many species of Sobralias in cultivation at Finca Dracula, Maduro's nursery in Cerro Punta. We have had many requests from customers in Florida, California and Hawaii for Sobralias that may be grown as garden plants in these areas. Most Sobralias take partial to full sun, but should be acclimated gradually to exceptionally bright conditions. These are robust terrestrials with showy short-lived sequential blooms.
We have found Sobralias to be easy to grow in our southern
Maryland greenhouse, and have discovered a number of the species are small-growing
and floriferous under intermediate conditions. A few species have flowers that last for a week or more!
Everyone should give Sobralias a try! It is unlikely you will be disappointed! We try to ship only established plants.
Dr. Robert Dressler has been working at Finca Dracula to correctly identify all
the species. Almost a dozen have bloomed in the past months that are undescribed or misnamed (soon to be remedied). Dr. Dressler will be publishing several papers on the Sobralias of Panama in Orchids, the magazine, during the next year. They grow well in plastic pots with moss or a seedling bark (Paph) mix. According to Dr. Robert Dressler, currently, there are 31 species of Sobralia found in Panama. We believe there are many more!
Catalog Codes: Plant Size: S=seedling (3-5" leaf span), LS=large
seedling (6+ leaf span), NBS=near-blooming size, BS=blooming size,
MC=mericlone, D=division, MT=mounted
Plant Culture Codes:
Sobralia allenii - (Panama) Rare in cultivation. Petit 12-14" tall plants produce beautiful white flowers.
Essentially a white "Sobralia callosa"! Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia amabilis
- (Panama) Rare in cultivation. Dwarf red-purple species. Showy short-lived
flowers produced successively. Grow cool, with moderately bright-bright
light, evenly moist. We have not been able to grow these in southern Maryland (too warm?!?)
Sobralia atropubescens - (Panama) handsome species with Cattleya-like red brown flowers
with yellow picotee on petals and sepals. large tubular pink lip is red in the throat
with ruffled edges. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia bouchei - (Panama) Rare in
cultivation. Medium sized species with showy lavender short-lived flowers
produced successively. Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright
light, evenly moist.
Sobralia callosa - (Panama) Rare in
cultivation. Miniature species with showy fuchsia-purple flowers
produced successively!! We recently bloomed one of our plants with 18 flowers open at the same time on a 9" tall plant in a 4" pot!
Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright
light, evenly moist.
Sobralia chrysotoma (formerly sp. El Valle #1) - (Panama) See the article in August, 2001
Orchids where Dr. Dressler describes this new species from El Valle! Showy short-lived large
white flowers with ruffled yellow lip with white rim, produced successively. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia decora - (Panama) Pink! Very easy. Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia disimilis - (Panama) (Formerly sold as Sobralia bella) Outstanding! One of the best of the Sobralias.
Very rare in cultivation. Tall species with showy light yellow flowers with purple
painted lips, which last for up to 9 days!! Grow cool-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia doraemeliae - (Panama/Cost Rica) Really cute! Small plant to 10"tall. Showy short-lived white flowers, produced in succession. Grow cool-intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist. Very limited.
Sobralia gloriana - (Panama) Showy pink-flowered species recently described and named for Gloria Maduro, Andres' wife and partner in TFM! Reaches 4 feet tall.Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist. Very limited.
Sobralia helleri - (Panama) White with blood red lip. Large species to 4' tall. Excellent plant. One of our very favorites. One of our plants was awarded in 2003!
Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia kerryae - (Panama) Rare in
cultivation. Tall species. Showy short-lived heavily fragrant flowers produced successively.
Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia lindleyana - (Panama)Very nice robust compact grower that produces showy 3 inch white blooms with brown and gold around the corona.
Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia macra (syn. Sobralia leucoxantha) - (Panama) Easy to grow and bloom. Plant reaches 24" in height. White flowers with a yellow throat, produced successively. One of our plants was recently awarded! Grow intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia maduroi - (Panama)
Another new species! Dwarf plant to 12-14" tall. White flowers with purple-marked lips. Flowers last up to one week!!Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia mariae - (Panama) Compact plant to two feet tall. Showy short-lived white flowers with yellow lip callus, produced in succession. Easy to grow and bloom. Rare. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia nutans - (Panama) Compact plant to three feet tall with graceful thin leaves. Showy short-lived white flowers with speckled lip, produced in succession. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia powellii - (Panama) Compact plant to two feet tall. Showy short-lived large
white flowers with brown-yellow lip, produced in succession. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia sanfelicensis - (Panama) Compact plant to two feet tall. Recently described relative of Sobralia maduroi. White flowers with purple markings on lip. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia tricolor (Prov.) - (Panama) Although this plant has been in cultivation at Maduro's for more than 15 years, it is now recognized by Dr. Dressler as a new species. We brought it to his attention after blooming sevral plants from among a population of another species that was virtually identical, vegetatively! Mid-size plant reaches three feet tall. A most unsual Sobralia with a green flower with a fringed yellow lip with red throat. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia undatocarinata - (Panama)
Very rare in cultivation. Tall species with showy white flowers with purple
painted lips, purported to 9 days!! Grow cool-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia recta (formerly sold as vaginalis) - (Panama) Showy short-lived large
white flowers with pink lip, produced successively. Only one plant of this species was ever discovered. These fast-growing seedlings are 1-2 years from flowering. Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
Sobralia warscewiczii - (Panama) Seldom seen since it was described in 1857,
this wonderful and spectacular species is happily growing at Finca Dracula (Maduro's nursery at Cerro Punta)!
Plants reach 2.5-4 feet tall and sequentially produce 3-4" fragrant blue-dark lavender flowers
Exceedingly rare! Grow intermediate,
with moderately bright-bright light, evenly moist.
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