Encyclia tampensis

Encyclia tampensis is an orchid native to Florida.  This orchid is also known as the Florida butterfly orchid.  It grows mainly in central and southern Florida.  It is also native to the Bahamas and Cuba.  When the plant gets large, it can have many flower spikes with hundreds of small flowers.  It usually blooms in June and July.  The pictures below is a bloom on a very small seedling that bloomed for me in May 2011.  The color of the blooms vary quite a bit in nature.  There is also a white-lipped form of this orchid.  It is easy to grow if you can resist watering it too much, especially in the cooler months and early spring.  During the growing season, this orchid can take more water, but still likes to dry well between watering.