Cattleya forbesii var. alba is a pure white with only yellow markings in the throat. This is a rare alba form of the bifoliate species native to Coastal Brazil. It is very easy to grow and bloom.
Found in Rio de Janiero, Sao Paulo, Parana and Santa Catarina states of Brazil near streams or the sea coast on trees and rocks or on bushes under trees at elevations around 200 meters.
As a cool to warm growing, medium sized epiphyitc or lithophytic species from with slightly swollen pseudobulbs subtended by several membraneous sheaths and carrying 2 apical, oblong, coriaceous, spreading, rounded, notched apically leaves.
Blooms from autumn until spring on an erect, terminal, 9 to 15 cm long, 1 to few [6] flowered inflorescence subtended basally by a sheath from which long-lived, fragrant bubble gum scented , waxy, color variable flowers arise.
Best grown mounted to tree fern or cork or potted in well draining medium, bright light, cool to warm temperatures and a warm humid summer and a slight winter rest after flowering.
This is a near blooming size in a 4.5" clay pot, newly repotted, about 2 to 3 years to bloom, grown from seed. Limited