Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Epiphyte
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
33
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1310-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Maple shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Lichtnussbaum
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Aleurites moluccanus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Euphorbiales
Family
Orchidaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Epidendreae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
5050
1
27800
👆🏻