C. maxima coerulea 'Blue Sea' | NBS | 4" pots

Cattleya maxima f. coerulea is the enchanting, cool-toned "blue" variation of one of South America's most elegant and historically significant unifoliate species. Native to the tropical forests of Ecuador and Peru, the coerulea color form strips away the traditional warm lavender-pinks of the species, replacing them with a serene palette of ice-blue, steel-lavender, and slate-indigo.

The flowers are a masterclass in delicate, airy grace, featuring long, elegantly undulating petals and sepals in a pale, shimmering slate-blue. The true showstopper is the elongated, tubular lip, which acts as a high-contrast focal point: a magnificent web of deep violet-indigo veining maps out the entire midlobe, beautifully split down the center by a striking, bright canary-yellow stripe that extends deep into the throat.

Cultivation & Growth Profile

• Growth Habit: This color form typically exhibits the upland (or mountain) ecotype of the species, resulting in a beautifully compact, tidy grower with stout, upright pseudobulbs and stiff, leathery green foliage.

• Bloom Season: Primarily an autumn to early winter bloomer. It stands out for its exceptional flower count, often producing 5 to 8 (or more) long-lasting blooms on a single, strong, upright spike emerging from a green sheath.

• Fragrance: Highly uniform and sweet, releasing a delightful, clean, and classic floral perfume during the peak warmth of the morning and afternoon.

• Culture Preferences: Highly adaptable and vigorous, it thrives in intermediate to warm conditions with bright, filtered Cattleya-strength light and excellent air movement. It prefers a coarse, open, and fast-draining medium—such as chunky bark or tree fern—ideally in clay pots or slatted wooden baskets that allow its extensive root system to dry out quickly between thorough waterings.

For collectors who revere the classic, striking lip patterns of Cattleya maxima but want a rare, sophisticated, and cool-colored prize for their bench, the coerulea form is an absolute must-have masterpiece.

ATTENTION:

Please review our Shipping Policies here before ordering Shipping Policies

While we take great care in our packaging and shipping, plants sometimes do get damaged in shipping. We do our best to protect all plants but we cannot guarantee that no damage will occur. As these are live plants, please open your order quickly after receiving it. We suggest an antifungal treatment after unpacking your plants, such as Physan or other over-the-counter treatments. Please adhere to all manufacturer guidelines and dosages. Follow that with 1-2 days of drying before the first watering.

Please contact us with any issues with your order within three days.