Collecting the “Queen of Orchids”

Purple and pink Cattleya orchid

Vizcaya has long been synonymous with orchids. These beautiful blooms first arrived on the estate in the 1920s at the behest of James Deering himself. In 2001, a formal orchidarium was established at the estate through the generous endowment from the David A. Klein Foundation.

Now Vizcaya’s gardens are preparing to enter a new age of orchids. The Horticulture department has set its sights on Cattleya orchids and is working to build a representative collection that will achieve Plant Collection Network (PCN) status.

Why cattleyas?

“Cattleyas are not currently represented by any PCN certified collections in the United States and Vizcaya is ideally positioned for this,” explained David Hardy, Vizcaya’s Horticulture Manager.

Sometimes known as the “Queen of Orchids” or the prom orchid, Cattleyas are probably what most people visualize when they think of orchids. Showy and fragrant, with a spectacular range of colors and shapes, some species are quite large, with blooms several inches across.

Located in Miami, Florida, Vizcaya is blessed with the ideal climate to house these plants. Cattleyas are also a South American genus, which makes their acquisition a bit easier than other genera and species native to Asia and other, more distant parts of the world.

Getting an expert on the job

Cattleyas also happen to be Orchid Specialist Axel Cahiz’s favorite group of plants. Born into an orchid legacy that spans more than 40 years, Axel has been around these plants all his life. His father, Carlos Cahiz Puigdollers, is a pioneer in orchid breeding and several members of his family, including himself, have orchids named after them.

“Right now, I’m in the process of hunting orchids,” says Axel Cahiz, Vizcaya’s Orchid Specialist.

Securing new plants

A recent reclassification of Cattleyas has grown the genus from about 100 species to more than 400 varieties. Vizcaya’s gardens are currently home to about 40 different types of cattleyas, but to achieve true PCN status the team will have to collect 40-50% of these specimens – about 200 unique plants.

As such, the Horticulture team is heavily focused on acquisition. Staff are working hard to reach out to individual suppliers in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and other countries throughout the Americas, in addition to other botanic gardens.

 “In the orchid world, word of mouth is faster than the internet,” explains Cahiz, who continues to work his personal connections to acquire new plants.

Welcoming donations

Vizcaya is also happy to accept donations of orchids. If you are an orchid collector or know of one interested in donating their Cattleyas to help advance this project, please reach out to Axel Cahiz at axel.cahiz@vizcaya.org.

 
Close-up of rare orchids in a greenhouse setting with text promoting a behind-the-scenes tour at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

Visiting this Friday? Jump on this Exclusive Tour!

If you love orchids, you don’t miss this special behind-the-scenes tour on Friday, December 13, 11:30 a.m. Join Vizcaya’s own orchid specialist as we go inside the museum’s greenhouse to explore rare orchids and learn expert plant care tips.

Tickets are just $39 per person and include museum admission. Spots are limited, so reserve yours now!

Promo for Vizcaya's secret doors tour, featuring a grand building, lush gardens, and ornate interior details.

Visiting this Friday? Check out the Secret Doors Tour!

Join this intimate tour of the secret and hidden doors found throughout the estate. This guided experience is only available for a limited time.

Tickets are $49 per person and include museum admission for the day. Reserve your spot online while they last!