Laelia splendida (Cauca)
 

I wait every year for this beauty to bloom. It produces 5 ft. spikes topped with these outrageous spheres of extremely dark and intoxicatingly fragrant flowers. The pictures cannot account for its intricate beauty. This form is from a region in Columbia known as Cauca. I know it's genus name has changed from beautiful Laelia to some unpronouncable horror, but I will not include it here, so save your words of correction.

Very nice! What is the fragrance like?

Is this in your backyard - nice. How large is the plant.

It is always nice to see such a well grown plant. I wish the internet could transmit fragrance.

Unless there is a very recent change that is not widely known yet, rest assured that Laelia splendida is the generally accepted name. Schomburgkia was used for many years, and some stubbornly hold on to it, but it should be put to rest.

It is in a portion of my property I call the native garden. It contains mostly plants and trees native to South Florida. The exceptions of course are about 150 of my favorite orchids.

It is totally gorgeous!

To me it is a very sweet, heavy fragrance much like a room filled with many different kinds of flowers. It's almost like a sensory overload.

Gorgeous, love seeing that shot of how it grows on a tree.

Stunning, all I can think when I see that tall spike is...snap... which would be what happens with me and the wind. Dam wind.

Amazing! Wish I had room to grow species of this stature...