Angraecum sesquipedale


Michael's Opinion

Angraecum sesquidale is a beautiful white star shaped flower endemic to Madagascar. I feel this plant is very stunning and has unique in appearance which makes it desirable. I would love to get cultivars of this plant when they're in season.

Botanical Information

FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusAngraecum
Speciessesquipedale
CategoryTropicals
TypeVine
OriginThis plant originates from Madagascar, specifically the eastern side of the island.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone11 - 13
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone10 - 11
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH1a
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)10 - 21
Temperature (°F)30 - 70
Height1 m
Spread0.1 - 0.35 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodMay, June, July, August

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionThe leaves are healthy dark evergreen green, with hints of grey in them. The stem follows this ideal colouring of green until you get to the flowers which are greenish white when they first open but will wean off to a solid white.
LandscapeThe commercial uses of this plant include holiday flowering for consumers who choose to buy them.
PropagationBeing epiphytic the plant needs a tree or stronger organism close by to support it up, if potted a crutch is recommended. The growing medium recommended is sphagnum moss with 0.5 G/L fertilizer solution.
CultivationThere are many different cultivars of this plant, many of which flower in December and have become a known winter plant. They are recommended for hot house environments due to the heat needed for germination.
PestsNo notable pests or diseases.
Notable SpecimensA. sesquipedale is notable due to its connection with Charles Darwin, the scholars of the time couldn't agree with how this flower was pollinated most assuming it was self fertilizing due to its size before blooming and where the pollen is located within. Charles Darwin proposed that it was pollinated by a moth of sorts, no known moth was known to science at that point. Specimens to see in person are hard to find due to their special growing conditions temperature wise, though there was one at the University of Toronto last year.
HabitatThe eastern side of the Madagascar near low altitudes This plant likes to attach to trees due to the forest floor being awash with water for most of the year. In the eastern regions near the rain forest, cultivars exist but this is a main species.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe stem is thin but firm, due to needing to hold on to the trees it hosts, they also form quite the structure some stem/root systems being metres long.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves of this flower are dark green and are pointed in shape. The size of the leaf’s ranges from 20-40 cm in length and 6-8 cm in width. They have a leathery consistency due to the moist habitat. The leaves have a smooth and sharp leaf margin and have a vertical venation.
Flower DescriptionThis flower is bright white and has a unique star shaped, it has multiple pointed edges and is approximately 30 cm. The bright white colour of this flower attracts the pollinator moths at night as they are nocturnal. The white colour allows it to be more visible in the dark. The flower has a waxy texture and in the wild normally flowers between late May and August. In places where the flower is not grown naturally it blooms in the months of December and January. This flower is a specialty orchid and is not normally found in arrangements due to the necessary environment it needs to survive.
Colour DescriptionThe flower when first bloomed will give off a light green aura, when fully in bloom it has a breath-taking bright white colour.
Texture DescriptionWaxy, Rubbery, Leathery

Photographs