Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis
“Enjoy this plant and its flowers but… bring a peg for your nose!”
This is perhaps one of those rarities that one seldom sees in cultivation and least of which, in flower!
Hailing from the tropical lowlands of Papua New Guinea this magnificent orchid is a true collectors’ dream and one with it’s own exacting cultivation requirements. These plants require year round water and warm to hot and extremely humid conditions in deep shade. A rather slow grower, it will eventually have leaves that reach near the 2 metre length and pseudo bulbs the size of a baseball, though larger specimens have been observed in the past.
Our specimen is only a juvenile plant and it is well on it’s way to attaining full size in a couple of years. As it stands, it is still an impressive specimen and one can view this amazing orchid in the Species Orchid Room.
One warning though, steer clear of getting to close as the “fragrance” that it emits will undoubtedly shock you! unless you enjoy the lovely aroma of dead fish rolled in cat litter! The flowers on this plant are pollinated by flies so one can only surmise the type of odour that it pumps out especially in the warmth of the hot room. A stunning addition to our collection of rare and unusual plants from around the world and one which we love to share with all people with a passion for nature’s weird and wonderful treasures.
Enjoy the plant and flowers but… bring a peg for your nose!