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Dark Purple Psychilis

Psychilis atropurpurea (sy-KIL-liss at-ro-pur-PURR-ee-uh)

Family: Orchidaceae Unknown Herbaceous

The Dark Purple Psychilis is a flowering orchid; an epiphyte (a plant that grows on other plants, but is not parasitic) that is native to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In its native habitat, it can be found on cactus in semi0arid pine woods and broadleaf forests. It prefers a warm to hot temperature range and produces many beautiful, long-lasting, fragrant flowers.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 24 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Epiphyte; Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Pseudobulbs carry 2 to 4, leathery, stiff, erect, linear to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, leaves with smooth margins.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
On a 60 inch sheath, successive blooms of many flowered inflorescence with ovate, tapering floral bracts.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Dominican Republic and Haiti
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#orchid #epiphytic #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for dogs

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.