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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Orchidaceae (Orchids) |
| Origin: Tropical America |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Purple |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Epidendrum 'Purple' (Purple Reed Stem Orchid) - This evergreen orchid holds leafy stems growing up to 30 inches tall, producing balls of 30 or more brilliantly-colored 1-inch purple flowers on 18 inch terminal spikes. This locally popular (Santa Barbara) but unnamed variety is very floriferous with abundant flower spikes throughout the year. In time plants develop keikis (Hawaiian term for "babies"), which are new vegetative growths produced on old stems and flower spikes. Once these keikis develop their own 2- to 4-inch-long roots, they can easily be detached from the stem and planted individually in pots and grow readily in almost any setting, whether in a pot, mounted on a cork slab, or in raised flowerbeds outdoors, as climate permits. Strong, sturdy growth comes when plants are placed in bright light, even full sun along the coast. It benefits from fertilizer, and thrives when grown in a rich, fast-draining humus mix. It will tolerate temperatures down to 25-30° F for brief periods. Our plants under tree cover survived a drop below 20° F in the freeze of 1990.
The information about Epidendrum 'Purple' displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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