Essence of Stanhopea: Stanhopea Nigroviolacea

Showing posts with label Stanhopea Nigroviolacea. Show all posts

Monday, January 18, 2016

Stanhopea nigroviolacea x self

Stanhopea nigroviolacea x self 1


Stanhopea nigroviolacea x self 2

We are currently in the middle of our summer and many of my stanhopea's blooming at the moment. Our hot and humid temperamental weather seems to bring strong and vivid colors of my stanhopea's and major task right now is to keep them well watered. And of course, to enjoy their fabulous blooms and scents.

This nigroviolacea x self just finished it's flowering showing off it's huge, majestic flowers and heady, strong vanilla/chocolate perfume. Technically, of course it's stanhopea tigrina var nigroviolacea and this clone displaying clear, strong, brilliant colors enjoyed by everyone.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Stanhopea Nigroviolacea

The flowers of my Stanhopea Nigroviolacea opened up this morning. This one is one beautiful Stanhopea’s native to Central America. This variety remains popular with collectors since its discovery in 1838 in Mexican tropical forests. This variety producing spectacular burgundy/cream highly perfumed chocolate/vanilla scented, waxy flowers. The scent is very strong and penetrates the whole house, some people find it even overbearing, but I love its chocolate/vanilla smell. This variety was the very first of my Stanhopea’s, it’s the one that started “stanhopea fever” for me. More than 20 years on and its still rewarding me with its majestic flowers every summer without fail.

If you’ve tried growing everything from Aspidistras to Zinnias and you haven’t tried Stanhopea Orchids, you don’t know what you’re missing. They are easier to grow than African Violets and far more majestic than any other plant. The variety available boggles the mind …

Be warn, though, ever since their discovery by English explorers to Europe in the 18th Century they have caused a “ Stanhopea mania” that continues to this day.

My own first Stanhopea orchid was Stanhopea Tigrina though I didn’t know it. Friend gave it to me as a birthday present – a trip to the library for some orchid’s books was quickly followed by the purchase of some more of these exotic, majestic, beautiful orchids and as they say – the fever had struck.

My fascination with orchids led to great friendships, lots and lots of reading, trips to exotic places (sometimes only through books) and the joy and frustration of growing the world’s most fabulous plants.