Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Epiphyte
Epiphyte
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia, China, Japan, Melanesia
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
3300
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
Humid climates, Subtropical climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1311-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
-
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm25.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
White, Light Yellow, Violet, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Subulate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
-
-
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
-
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Divison
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Allow to dry out slightly between watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
-
Soil Type
-
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade
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
Red blotch
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Container, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
ERIA merrillii
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Eria, Orchid
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Eria
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Eria
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Eria
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Eria
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
eria
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
eria
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Eria
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Pinalia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Pinus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Podochileae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
50500
1
27800
👆🏻