Is this an orchid of unknown origin?
 

Hi All!
Was gifted with this little guy today and my friend does not know what this orchid is called. I have never had an orchid with this structure. Please help me with its ID.
Thank you!

That looks like what is usually called a reed-stemmed Epidendrum. They can grow outside in much of coastal California.

Thank you so much! Is it OK to grow it in dirt? Or is bark still best? I hope direct southern CA sun is acceptable for it?

Most of the people who grow it in the ground don't know it's an orchid. They just stick it in a bed. People (like my dad) successfully grow it in the very sandy soil found near the coast. Others grow it in more loose planter type mix.

As for sun, that depends on how close you are to the coast. If you frequently get June gloom or even fog, put it out in full sun. Otherwise a little shade. My dad had huge plantings of it in San Clemente on the hill facing the coast at ECR. If you get really hot summer days, give it some shade.

If grown in the ground, the soil needs to be very well drained. Where I live, it's adobe clay, that wouldn't be suitable. If sandy, you can get away with it. When in doubt, I'd lean towards bark.

Most of those, especially the hybrids which I suspect yours is, will do fine if you just drop them on the ground. Assuming of course you have the right conditions. It doesn't take them very long usually to just walk right out of a pot.

Fingers crossed 😀

Here is a couple of photos of its parent! Anyone knows it's specific variety name?

Definitely a reed-stem Epi. Those typically don't have a pedigree. (A red one... a yellow one... a purple one... is about as precise as it gets). This one is very beautiful, I love the saturated color! A nice thing about them is that once they get going, they are in bloom much of the time, since they produce multiple flowers sequentially on a growth.

Looks identical to one that I got as a present years ago. Mine has produced some many keikis that I've gotten to the point of having to toss them. Mine seem to do well mounted, potted in bark and charcoal or just tossed into a planter full of Tradescantia. From what I can tell it prefers to have it's head in the sun and feet in the shade.