Sign in Start free
Species library › Masdevallia › Masdevallia amabilis
Orchids Well documented

Masdevallia amabilis

Masdevallia amabilis (Rchb.f. & Warsz., 1854) is the classic cold-growing, high-Andean Masdevallia of central and northern Peru, growing as a terrestrial or lithophyte on rocky, grassy slopes between 2,750 and 4,500 m. It takes far more light and much colder nights than the cloud-forest members of the genus, and its bright crimson-to-magenta flowers are a reward for growers who can keep it cold.

Masdevallia amabilis
Photo: Florence H. Woolward (illustrator); B.S. Marquess of Lothian (editors), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
At home, aim for
Day Cool-growingTargets 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 rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Terrestrial and lithophytic on exposed rocky slopes, road cuts and among grasses and low shrubs in the dry-to-semi-humid puna and upper montane zone of the Peruvian Andes; often in the open with only sparse shrub shade.

Recorded 2,750–4,518 m, median 3,750 m from 42 wild records across Amazonas, Cajamarca, Huánuco and Apurímac.

PeruCajamarcaAmazonasHuánucoApurímac

🔒 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 Masdevallia amabilis? 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 Masdevallia

Masdevallia veitchiana Masdevallia davisii Masdevallia unguentum Masdevallia sumapazensis Masdevallia ionocharis Masdevallia goliath Masdevallia odontocera Masdevallia bicolor Masdevallia coccinea Masdevallia uniflora Masdevallia floribunda Masdevallia mejiana All 686 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its Public domain licence, unmodified.