Cattleya dolosa

This species is also known as the Dolose Cattleya and is native to Brazil. Cattleya dolosa grows on rock outcroppings or sometimes trees.

The plant is very similar to Cattleya walkeriana. The fragrant flower of Cattleya dolosa is similar in size and form to Cattleya walkeriana. Each 3 inch flower stem has between one to (rarely) four, 5 inch flowers that are very waxy and have a heavy substance. Flowers are long-lived. Blooms in spring.

Cattleya dolosa is frequently grown mounted on cork slabs or in baskets, but some growers report success using pots with extremely open fast draining medium such as coarse bark nuggets.

It was once thought that Cattleya dolosa was a natural hybrid between Cattleya walkeriana and Cattleya harrisoniana or Cattleya loddigesii. However, after years of hybridizing, Cattleya dolosa was not able to be reproduced through experimentation and was awarded species status. It is rare in cultivation but worthy of a spot in your collection.