The jewel orchid, haemaria discolor, is grown primarily for its foliage--velvety, striped and reddish brownish burgundy in color--but I enjoyed its tiny white flowers this winter, too. Currently, it is summering outside on the front porch, where the nearby orchid cactus has decided to cozy up to it.
Really, this is probably not a true orchid cactus, in the epiphyllum family, but rather something in the nearby disocactus family.
No matter where it botanically belongs, it's beautiful. And I have been calling it an orchid cactus for so long that the habit won't die anytime soon. I really like the contrast between the velvety jewel orchid leaves and the tough-looking orchid cactus leaves.
Both "orchid" pots have other plants mixed in. Above, you can spy part of a rat-tail cactus that shares the cactus pot... and below, an unknown, tiny succulent that I rooted in the jewel orchid pot to cover up the bare earth around its stems.
This grouping is fun to look at from many angles:
And I couldn't pick just one photo to show you, so I decided to post them all. Here's one more gratuitous shot:
Hope you enjoyed my "orchid"-themed Foliage Follow-Up. For more great foliage shots, visit the comments on Pam's Hot & Steamy Foliage Follow-Up and visit the links there!
8 comments:
Liking the looks of that Haemaria discolor. Might have to try that one.
What a striking leaf color. It reminds me of a brown pin-striped sofa cushion. I really like it.
I have never seen a orchid with such a color of leaves. Very interesting.
What a yummy leaf, I don't think I've ever seen that before. The color looks almost chocolate in some of the photos.
It's a fabulous leaf - it looks like a really chic pinstriped suit to me!
Chloe M.
Oh, I love that orchid. Who needs a flower with foliage like that. Love your blooms also.
and who doesn't dig foliage? and as for your new post, will the dog also graze on weeds?
Love that orchid cactus leaf. And being a succulent junkie I love the succulents tucked here and there of any sort! (Word verification is 'stings' maybe that is a nod to the cactus.)
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