🇪🇨 Habitat and Ecology
​Dracula vampira (the Vampire Orchid) is a legendary and rare epiphytic orchid endemic to Ecuador. Historically, it was restricted to the western slopes of Mount Pichincha near Quito, but due to habitat loss, it is now primarily found in protected reserves in the Carchi and Imbabura provinces.
​It inhabits cool, wet cloud forests at elevations between 1,800 and 2,200 metres. In these misty environments, it grows on the lower trunks of trees, often near the ground, where the air is constantly saturated and the light is dim. It is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List due to its extremely limited natural range and the threat of illegal collection.
​🌸 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This species is widely regarded as the "King of the Draculas" due to the sheer size and dramatic coloration of its blooms.
​Habit: It is a robust, clump-forming epiphyte without pseudobulbs. The stems (ramicauls) are erect, each bearing a single, large, paddle-shaped leaf.
​Foliage: The leaves are broad, light green, and thin-textured (15–28 cm long). They are typically larger and floppier than those of smaller Dracula species.
​Flowers: The inflorescences are pendent (hanging), emerging from the base of the plant and growing downwards or horizontally. The flowers are massive, often spanning 20-30 cm from tip to tip of the tails.
​Aesthetics: The triangular sepals have a base colour of pale greenish-white, but they are densely covered in thick, raised, blackish-purple veins that coalesce to make the flower appear almost solid charcoal-black. The sepals taper into incredibly long, thread-like black tails.
​The "Face": The center of the flower features a small, white lip (labellum) veined with pink, which contrasts vividly with the dark petals, creating the "mouth" of the vampire face.
​🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
​Taxonomy: Described by Dr. Carlyle Luer in 1978, the specific epithet vampira was chosen for the flower's resemblance to a bat or a caped vampire due to its dark, hooded appearance and long, claw-like tails.
​Pollination: Like its relatives, it mimics mushrooms. The lip is shaped like a mushroom cap (gills included) to attract fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae). The dark, veined pattern may help mimic the contrast of light and shadow on the forest floor where mushrooms grow.
​Cultural Status: Dracula vampira is the most famous and sought-after species in the genus. It is a "Holy Grail" plant for orchid hobbyists and often serves as the flagship species for Ecuadorian cloud forest conservation efforts.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Dracula vampira is a strict cool-grower. It is intolerant of heat and dryness, making it a challenging but rewarding plant for advanced growers or those with climate-controlled greenhouses.
​Light: Requires deep shade (500–1,000 foot-candles). In the wild, it grows in the darkest part of the forest. Leaves should be a lush green; yellow leaves indicate too much light.
​Substrate: Must be grown in a hanging basket (mesh or wooden slats) lined with New Zealand sphagnum moss. This allows the flower spikes to penetrate the bottom of the pot. Solid pots will trap the blooms, causing them to rot underground.
​Watering: The moss must remain consistently wet. Never allow it to dry out, even for a day.
​Water Quality: Use pure water only (rainwater, RO, or distilled). It is hypersensitive to dissolved minerals and salts, which will cause rapid leaf tip die-back.
​Temperature:
​Optimal Daytime: 13-18 C (55-65 F).
​Optimal Nighttime: 8-12 C (46-54 F).
​Critical Limit: It struggles significantly if temperatures rise above 22 C (72 F). It is a true cloud forest species.
​Humidity: Extremely High (85-100%). It requires a "foggy" environment. Good air circulation is vital to prevent mold in such wet conditions.
​✨ Unique Features
​The sheer drama of the black veins against the pale background distinguishes Dracula vampira from all others. While Dracula roezlii is also dark, D. vampira is significantly larger and has a more defined, striped pattern. Its resemblance to a sinister, hooded face is so uncanny that it often unsettles those seeing it for the first time.
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: (user input)
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Dracula vampira B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB