Name: Cattleya rex O'Brien
Synonyms: Cattleya labiata var. rex (O'Brien) Schlechter
Etymology: rex = king — refers to the majestic, regal appearance of the flowers of this extraordinary species.

First description: 1890 by James O'Brien in “The Gardeners' Chronicle”.
Origin / Distribution:
Northern Peru and western Bolivia.
Location / Habitat:
An epiphyte growing in humid mountain forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes at elevations of around 1,350 m. It grows high in the canopy on exposed tree trunks, with excellent air movement and high light levels.
Description & Notes:
Cattleya rex is a medium-sized, unifoliate orchid with a woody rhizome. It produces closely spaced, spindle- to club-shaped pseudobulbs, each bearing a single, upright, very leathery leaf. The inflorescence emerges from a sheath and produces spectacular flowers up to 17 cm across. The sepals and petals are an elegant creamy white to soft ivory, while the lip is magnificently patterned: it has an intensely yellow throat traversed by fine purplish-red to crimson veins, ending in a wavy white margin. The flowers also emit a delicate fragrance.

In cultivation, this species requires intermediate to warm-temperate conditions. It needs a very bright location but must be protected from the harsh midday sun. A coarse pine bark mix in pots with excellent drainage or slatted baskets is suitable as a growing medium. During the active growth phase, water and fertilize regularly, allowing the medium to dry out between waterings. After the new pseudobulb has matured, a pronounced rest period follows, during which watering is greatly reduced, while consistently high humidity and excellent air circulation must be maintained year-round.

In-vitro culture: You will receive a flask containing 4 young plants. The plants are generally already large enough to be removed from the flask. After opening, carefully remove all the nutrient medium from the roots with lukewarm water and pot the young plants in fine, airy bark with good drainage. For the first few weeks, we recommend high humidity, warm-temperate conditions, and bright light protected from direct sun; then gradually grow the young Cattleya under drier and brighter conditions.