Name that Aerides!

[jaylanier]

Hi Gang,

I bought this one labeled as a vanda coerulea about 6 months ago. It was small enough that I didn’t question the growth habit and leaf structure. Well, surprise, after blooming it, the label is clearly wrong. Confident it is an aerides, but not sure which species or potential hybrid. I don’t think it’s a houletiana, which I already own and was able to compare blooms side by side.

Any help is appreciated!

[SouthPark]

Is it possibly odorata? That's just the spelling of it. Maybe ----- possibly it is that. But - maybe some more pics ----- close-ups, and different angles - will help a bit more. Also consider lawrenceae.

[Keysguy]

odorata or possibly lawrenceae but I'd lean toward the former. I trust it's nicely fragrant even though it appears from that pic to be a very immature plant.

[jaylanier]

odorata was my best guess. It's definitely an immature plant. I'm wondering if the flower size is similarly small, opening the door for lawrencea, which have the largest flowers in the genus. These dont have bigger flowers than my houletiana right now. Thank you both so far, will post more photos later.

[Keysguy]

Immaturity was why I wouldn't discount it as lawrenceae just yet. If flowers don't start getting larger in a couple years than that would eliminate it but remember, "larger" is typically only like 25% or so in my experience. I have 4 different species of Aerides (my favorite genus) and you have to stare at them pretty hard to realize the flowers of lawrenceae are larger. I suspect it has something to do with how closely held together the flowers are on most of the plants.