Blc. Grandma June Metcalf 'Yellow Lip'

Grandma June Metcalf Brings the Sunshine

Blc. Grandma June Metcalf is an established large-flowered Cattleya hybrid that carries classic exhibition breeding down to its fingertips. It produces robust, upright pseudobulbs that set bud reliably once the growth matures, rewarding you with full-bodied blooms that fill a room.

The flowers open in a clear, buttery yellow across broad sepals and petals, anchored by an expansive lip flushed in deep gold with delicate ruffled margins. The wide, flared petals cup slightly forward like a pair of outstretched hands greeting you at the bench.

The real magic here is the perfume. Opening early in the morning and holding strong through the heat of the afternoon, the sweet citrus fragrance makes walking into the grow room an absolute treat. This is a classic greenhouse-sized Cattleya that puts on a generous show, holding its heavy-substance blooms crisp for weeks on end. You give it a bright corner, and it handles the rest.

Quick Care Guide

• Light: Bright, filtered light. An east exposure or shaded south window works best, keeping the foliage a solid apple green.

• Water: Drench thoroughly, then allow the potting mix to dry out almost completely between waterings.

• Temperature: Nights 58–65°F, days 70–86°F. A slight drop at night encourages clean, strong spike development.

• Fertilizer: Balanced orchid fertilizer weakly weekly during active vegetative growth, tapering off in late fall.

• Mature size: Foliage reaches twelve to fifteen inches in height, with flower spikes carrying blooms up to five to six inches across.