Gurianthe skinnera aka Guaria Morada 'Heiti Jacobs'

[mjHuntingtonBeach]

A visiting friend from Costa Rica bought this for me when he was visiting in 2012 and we were at the Santa Barbara Orchid Estates. It is the national flower of Costa Rica. Although too tender to keep outdoors here in California year round, I find that if I bring it in starting late November, by late April it can start spending days outside, and by late May it will be outdoors full time until November.

One identifying trait, not sure if it comes across in the pictures, but the petals have a special irridescence when in the sun, like little flecks of shine as the sun hits them.

[RosieC]

Gorgeous!

[Picotee]

Lovely. My 'Heiti Jacobs' bloomed in March with three heads of flowers and I love that special iridescence when the petals catch the light.

[isurus79]

Very nice! The crystalline nature of the petals on this species really is something else.

[silken]

Very nice and such a healthy looking plant too.

[tuvoc]

Lovely thing.

Kim

[WhiteRabbit]

Wonderful!

[Sharry]

Mj: Great plant.

How tall is the plant? How big of a pot does a bloom sized specimen need? Did you get yours as a seedling?

[Leafmite]

Fabulous!