Biggest Cattleya Flower ?

[Bud]

There is only one Cattleya warscewiczii that I know of…it’s a very old orchid dated since 1873…and only two forms as far as I know (the lavender and the pure white)
But it was given so many names so don’t get confused:
Synonims: Cattleya gigas (named by Linden & Andre 1873); Cattleya gloriosa (named by D.J Carr in 1885); Cattleya imperialis (named by O'Brien in 1887); Cattleya labiata var. warscewiczii[Rcb.f]Rchb.f.1883; Cattleya lindeni (by L. Linden in 1890); Cattleya sanderiana (by H. Low 1896); Epidendrum labiatum var warscewiczii Rchb.f 1861…
….so we now all know what a mess the Royal Horticultural Society is….the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand does! And in those times there’s only four of them in the staff according to the rosters headed by Prince Albert in the court of Queen Victoria’s reign. Can you imagine at this modern times when they have hundreds of staff in their rosters still using snailmail…there must be multitudes of confusion and mistakes let alone duplications…
Another variation in form is a white albino strain:
Cattleya Warscewiczii Alba 'Firmin Lambeau'

you can buy this at:

Chadwick & Sons
Miranda orchids
Santa Barbara Orchids Estate
Orchidspecies.com
orchidflowerhq.com
and on Ebay if youre lucky to find one in auction

the alba is rare... I saw one sold in auction on Ebay 3 summers ago: but that was once in a blue moon

[CR7cristiano]

I'm definitely going to have to bring this thread back to life because I saw the most amazing and eye catching large catt blooms I have ever seen personally. The unfortunate bit was that my dentist firsted me to it upon seeing them taking it out of the truck coming from Mr. Hamilton's Orchid farm. I am so devastated that it wasn't me going home with that cattleya.
Its petals and sepals are an off-white/lilac colour, and it had a loong and flat lip with a slightly ruffled tip. The colour of the lip was a deep reddish purple i'd see, or a cherry purple w/ accented yellow/orange veins in the lip contrasting with the rich red/purple. it had two blooms to a pseudobulb and these blooms were nothing short of 9 inches. OMG i need to ask my dentist what the tag says!

[pipsxlch]

I have BLC Languedoc 'Singapore Welcome' (awarded but can't remember what ATM)- it is a very generous grower and produces fragrant autumn 10" blooms for me that are a shoft pink/lavender. Got it at a yard sale that some hobbyists were having- it got so big they had to divide it several ways.
I was wondering if this was it when I was reading your description, Cristiano, but it doesn't have the red in the lip. Could you ask Mr. Hamilton? or beg your dentist for some backbulbs when possible lol

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by pipsxlch

I have BLC Languedoc 'Singapore Welcome' (awarded but can't remember what ATM)- it is a very generous grower and produces fragrant autumn 10" blooms for me that are a shoft pink/lavender. Got it at a yard sale that some hobbyists were having- it got so big they had to divide it several ways.
I was wondering if this was it when I was reading your description, Cristiano, but it doesn't have the red in the lip. Could you ask Mr. Hamilton? or beg your dentist for some backbulbs when possible lol

I am going back to Mr. Hamilton tomorrow after I drop my puppy at the groomers. I am gonna ask if they have found anymore of that kind left that just haven't bloomed; because when I was there the truck came from his farm so they hadn't organized the orchids yet, but my dentist and some other GURL -__- firsted me to the two i would most def want to add to my collection to satisfy me for the next month. They saw the open blooms and called dibs...so chances are if I'm lucky their will be a few more of the same cattleyas, just need to ask them if they know the name or ask my dentist and look through them. Def worth the trouble I swear it!

[CR7cristiano]

I know the Blc. Languedoc ' Singapore Welcome', Mr. hamilton also has that catt.

[subicedragon]

Thank you for sharing I will add that to my wish list

[CR7cristiano]

I will be adding a lot of these large blooming catts to my collection; undoubtedly. I am especially interested in the one Bud speaks of. Cattleya Warscewiczii; the original and the alba. I also love Laelia Purpurata with the cherry red lip!

[got ants]

If you are looking for the large C.warscewiczii, then you want the sanderiana type. Within that, there are many varietals/

This was a recent import, that had a forced bloom. It arrived in sheath, bare root, and immediately bloomed due to our differential equatorial seasonal temps. It should bloom larger now that it is fully established in pot, next proper season....

C. warscewiczii sanderiana "??"

[CR7cristiano]

I'm excited to order a few from Brazil! I wll sell all except two which I'll keep for myself!