Sign in Start free
Species library › Cattleya › Cattleya purpurata
Orchids Well documented

Cattleya purpurata

One of the most widely hybridised Cattleyas, long known as Laelia purpurata. It is a large epiphyte of the coastal Atlantic Forest in southern and southeastern Brazil, growing high in tall trees near the sea, and flowers from late spring into summer with three to five long-lasting, fragrant flowers per spike. It wants bright light, a warm humid summer and a cooler winter, and is regarded as easy in cultivation.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

An epiphyte in the canopy of tall trees in coastal lowland Atlantic Forest and restinga near the sea, often on well-lit upper branches; plants are also found on rocks near the coast. Its exposed canopy position gives it bright light and constant sea breezes.

Seven GBIF records carry an elevation: 46–775 m, median 132 m, consistent with a coastal lowland species.

Brazil SouthBrazil Southeast

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

Grow Cattleya purpurata? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Cattleya

Cattleya dowiana Cattleya trianae Cattleya mossiae Cattleya cinnabarina Cattleya crispata Cattleya schroederae Cattleya coccinea Cattleya rex Cattleya warscewiczii Cattleya bicolor Cattleya gaskelliana Cattleya guttata All 288 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.