Stanhopea tigrina var Glory of Mexico

Another stanhopea’s flowering season is upon us in southern hemisphere and I am sure many growers and collectors anxiously awaiting emergence of new flowering spikes, anticipating seeing beautiful majestic flowers, even for a short while.

This winter and spring I was able to increase my collection further by a few new to me species and varieties and one of them flowered early this afternoon.

This one is stanhopea tigrina, var Glory of Mexico – beautiful addition to my ever expanding stanhopea’s plants collection. The flowers of this variety huge when open - I’ve measured it being over 24 cm across, dark burgundy middle of the flower gradually turning into the lighter and then pure pristine white color on the end of petals. The scent, like with all tigrinas, very strong, heady vanilla and plant is very vigorous - even as it’s flowering, it’s developing new leaves.

Currently, another 2 flower spikes developing on the other side of the basket, so as usual, I am looking forward seeing more of this huge flowering beauty.

Stanhopea orchids – mature plants vs. seedlings

Over the years I’ve had many times an opportunity to purchase stanhopea’s orchids flasks or very small seedlings and always reluctant to do it. The reason is of course because it takes such a long time to raise plants from flasking or seedling stage.

On the picture I’ve captured stanhopea’s seedlings at various growth stage – one year old, two year old, three and four years old ones. As you can see, they are very far from flowering stage.


Stanhopea orchids take approx 7 years to mature and to start flowering and raising stanhopeas from small seedling requires a lot of patience and dedication. Patience – because one can not harry up Nature and it will take as long as it takes for the plants to mature. Dedication – because during these 7 years of growth plants will require a lot of maintenance and looking after. The changing weather conditions, changes of seasons, insects, snails and fungus can destroy precious seedlings overnight, and if anything, personally I would not recommend raising stanhopea’s from seedlings to a beginner.

At times, certain variety only available as a small un-flowered seedling and in that case, if you have to have it ( as we all do), go ahead and purchase it, providing you prepared to spend a lot of care and attention on that seedling. Mature flowered stanhopea plants will always cost more than seedlings, but reward of seeing your plant with beautiful scented flowers in spring or summer and discovering its essence and its place in Nature will bring you joy and happiness beyond belief.