Truly the queen of the orchids, Cattleya has an amazingly showy bloom reaching up to 5 inches across. The shape of this bloom is always unique with 2 fringed petals and a darker color lip featuring individual markings. Cattleya White Orchids are named for the English horticulturist who originally used the orchids leathery leaves to help pack his collection of mosses shipped from South America in the early 1800’s! 

Here is a specimen at the Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, North Carolina.