Porp. pilifera 'Lillian Sparks' photo by Eric Hunt

Member Plants

0 plants cultivated by members of ORCHIDS.ORG.

Upcoming Global Events

24th World Orchid Conference, Germany

Starting Thursday, March 26, 2026 (lasts 4 days) Event by The World Orchid Conference Trust Read More

For Sale by Members

There are currently no photos of plants of Porphyrostachys pilifera for sale by members of ORCHIDS.ORG. Below are other recent plants for sale:

Phal. Sunset Gemstone 'Tahiti' $25.00 listed by Peter Podaras Boring, USA

B. perrinii $35.00 listed by Linda Hartman PORT ST LUCIE, USA Local Only

Dendrobium var. Love Memory 'Fizz' $30.00 listed by Eva Boczon Chicago, USA Local Only
Do you have a plant for sale or trade which you cannot ship or do not want to bother shippping? No problem. Click here to make a local-only offer. It's a free service to our members.

Orchid Species: Porphyrostachys pilifera

(This name is currently accepted by Kew.)

Porphyrostachys pilifera is an orchid species identified by (Kunth) Rchb.f. in 1854.
Genus
Porphyrostachys (Porp.)
Grex
pilifera
(name currently accepted by Kew)
Parents
Species
Author
(Kunth) Rchb.f.
Year
1854
Add To My Plants   List for Sale or Trade   Write an Article
ORIGIN: This litho-terrestrial is found in Ecuador and Peru in dry montane regions with scattered trees at elevations of 1100 to 2800 meters.

DESCRIPTION: Text By Joseph Dougherty: Grows cold to cool ; lithoterrestrial; bright light to full sun. I've seen this plant in the wild near Cuenca, Ecuador, growing on volcanic rock in full sun in baking temps during the day and really cold at night. Very tough and quite uncommon in cultivation. This litho-terrestrial is found in Ecuador and Peru in dry montane regions with scattered trees at elevations of 1100 to 2800 meters. This orchid has fasciculate, stout, tuberous roots with oblong-lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute leaves that narrow to the basal sheathing base and are withered or absent by blooming time in the spring and summer when a stout, slender, glabrous stem enveloped by tubular-cylindric, scarious sheaths with a free, triangular, acuminate apex stem arises with a showy, thick-cylindric, several to many flowered, to 5 1/2" [to 14 cm] long, subdense or dense inflorescence with cucullate-ovate, acuminate floral bracts that exceed the length of the glabrous ovary and carries relatively large, showy, glabrous, non-resupinate flowers.

FLOWER SIZE: 3/4 inch [2 cm] -- information provided by Jay Pfahl, author of the Internet Orchid Species Encyclopedia (IOSPE).
Other Names
Genus Name Genus Grex Name Year Author
Add+ Stenoptera Sna cardinalis 1840 Lindl.
Add+ Altensteinia Alt pilifera 1816 Kunth in F.W.H.von Humboldt
Add+ Stenoptera Sna pilifera 1940 (Kunth) C.Schweinf.
Most awarded/recent cultivars: Porp. pilifera 'Herrenhausen' (2011) Porp. pilifera 'Lillian Sparks' (2002)
Log in to Add a Comment

Featured Site Articles

Read Latest Articles

Easy Orchids

Author is Ken Slump, posted over 4 years ago Suggestions for Choosing Plants Requiring Minimal Care THIS SEEMS LIKE AN IDEAL TOPIC for an article. Many of us want to enjoy orchid flowers with a minimum of fuss and I have found that most ... Read More

Beginners Start Here

Author is Ken Slump, posted almost 5 years ago A 12-Step Plan for Becoming a Successful Orchid Grower IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE ORCHID hobby and perhaps feel you are not enjoying the success with your plants that you had hoped for, read throug... Read More

Water: The Most Important Nutrient

Author is Roy Tokunaga, posted over 5 years ago We take water for granted.  It falls out of the sky.  It flows from the faucet.  Oahu city water is considered good for growing Orchids.   We use it without thought or concern. If you study orch... Read More

New Topics

  1. Kristin Dorris asked question Odontocidium Orchid fungus? in category General Discussion
  2. Maria Fernandez asked question Wild. Lisa Devos in category Dendrobiums
  3. Leshya Perkins asked question Image of a plant please in category General Discussion
  4. Danny Lyon asked question Phaius bernaysii in category General Discussion
Ask a Question

Start a Topic

New Comments

  1. Michael Valcarcel commented on member plant Rlc. Chief Takanaka by Walceli Muniz Valverde
  2. Michael Valcarcel commented on member plant Rlc. Montana Spirit by Michael Valcarcel
  3. Michael Valcarcel commented on member plant Ctt. Blazing Sun by Michael Valcarcel
  4. Michael Valcarcel commented on member plant Bc. Spotted Clown by Michael Valcarcel
  5. Maria Skrypnyk commented on member plant Yamadara Redland Sunset by Maria Skrypnyk
  6. André Pessina commented on topic "Odontocidium Orchid fungus?" by Kristin Dorris
  7. Linda Hartman commented on topic "Image of a plant please" by Leshya Perkins
  8. Paul Reavis commented on orchid Milt. Kismet
  9. Christiaan Viljoen commented on member plant Psh. fragrans by Christiaan Viljoen
  10. Christiaan Viljoen commented on member plant Z. maculatum by Christiaan Viljoen
  11. Christiaan Viljoen commented on member plant C. Gaskell-Pumila 'Azure Star' by Christiaan Viljoen
  12. Robert H. Findlay commented on member plant Rlc. Joy Sokabe var. Volcano Queen by Sally K
  13. James Lunsford commented on member plant Lc. Sagarik Wax 'African Beauty AMO/AOS x Blc. Cherry Suisse'Kauai' HCC/AOS var. Cattlyea 'Hybrid ' by James Lunsford
  14. John Varigos commented on orchid Bulb. schwarzii
  15. Linda Hartman commented on topic "Issue with Blc. Ben O'Neil "Jubilee" by Glenda Ratliff
  16. Henry Shaw commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  17. Mary Lane commented on member plant Den. Tianmu Canary by Terre Moore
  18. Pamela Stegmaier commented on member plant Rlc. Esther Costa var. Orange Fantasy by Mary Lane
  19. Mary Lane commented on member plant Rth. Linda Vee var. Kira - Cluster Orange by Mary Lane
  20. William Gorski commented on topic "Looking to purchase" by Judy Rutz