Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea 'Glory of Mexico'

This form of Stanhopea tigrina has a soft yellow or buff background and less of the reddish brown markings on the petals and sepals than some other forms like 'Predator'. The yellow markings on the upper hypochile are also more intense in this form.  The flowers are as large as the other forms with a width of 6.1 inches (15.5 cm).  The fragrance is very similar to the others with a chocolate and vanilla scent, but this has a slight mothball fragrance as the flowers age.

For me this has been one of the most rapidly growing and rewarding of the S. tigrina var. nigroviolacea forms.  It has flowered from a 3.0 inch (8 cm) pot in two years with five inflorescences, and in that time the plant has doubled in size.  It always seems to be in growth and takes very few breaks throughout the year.  I will continue to monitor this variety and see how it performs against the eleven other forms of this species that I have growing in my yard.