Michael Charters, www.calflora.net
Family
Orchidaceae
Botanical Name
Ansellia africana
Plant Common Name
African Ansellia, Leopard Orchid
General Description
A magnificent large orchid with spotted flowers in late spring and summer, leopard orchid also has a white root mass that forms a bucket-like clump that naturally vegetates treetops. A cold-tender evergreen from the drier forests across all of tropical sub-Saharan Africa, from the coastal plains to interior highlands, it is varies widely in flower color.
The giant plant produces many cane-like noded pseudobulbs that carry six to seven strap-like green leaves. From late spring to summer, each pseudobulb sends up a large, multi-branched flower stem with scores of starry blossoms ranging in color from pale yellow without spots to golden with brown spots or sienna-brown with light spots. These flowers are pollinated by hawk moths at night. Root and pseudobulb growth increases in the summer rainy season and slows to a full dormancy in winter. Dormancy allows pseudobulbs to harden off and initiate the next season's flowers.
Grow leopard orchid in nearly full sun to dappled partial sun mounted to a tree or palm or in a spacious reinforced wooden or wire basket filled with coarse bark. Do not grow it in soil. Water freely in summertime and allow the plant to drain quickly and dry before the next deluge. Dilute solutions of fertilizer can be showered on the plant when it's actively growing. If mounted on a tree, it can take upward of two years for roots to adequately fuse to the bark and support the plant's weight. Consider wedging this large plant in a branch crotch for added stability. Allow it to become much drier through winter. It is tolerant of light frost.
Use this orchid as a specimen clump for an outdoor tree or sturdy patio basket that is hung or supported in a heavy decorative pot. The flower stems can be cut and used as a floral filler or massed vase bouquet. The blooms are increasingly fragrant as the night progresses.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 14
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Epiphyte
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-5' / 0.6m - 1.5m
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Width
3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Africa, Middle Africa
Growing Conditions
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Gold, Bronze, Brown, Sienna
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Fruit Color
Light Green, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Gray Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Cutflower, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No
