Garden Variety: What's blooming at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory? - Mid-Atlantic gardening: Tips and pictures on flowers, vegetables, public gardens, composting and farmers’ markets

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December 30, 2010

What's blooming at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory?

Encyclia cochleata or Prosthechea cochleata

This flower is known as the cockleshell orchid or clamshell orchid because of the upside down lip on its bloom.

The unusual flower is striking for its almost black purple and light green tentacles. In Mexico it is refered to as “pulpo” since it resembles an octopus.

Encyclias are an easy to grow and will bloom for several months. They prefer low to medium light and warm temperatures.

Photo credit: Michael Lemmon

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory

Comments

This is a really beautiful orchid. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Posted by: Lynn Bay | January 8, 2011 2:41 PM

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About Susan Reimer

Susan Reimer has spent 16 years writing about raising kids - among other topics - in her column for The Baltimore Sun. And every time son Joseph or daughter Jessie passed another milestone - driver's license, college, wedding or a move to a new military duty station - she has planted another garden. Now she will be writing about those gardens - and yours - here on Garden Variety.

Susan isn't an expert gardener, but she wasn't an expert mother, either. Both - the kids and the gardens - seem to be doing well in spite of her.

She lives in Annapolis with her husband, Gary Mihoces, who loves to cut his grass but has noticed that there seems to be less of it every time the kids pass another milestone.

Follow @susanreimer on Twitter