Plot & PetalField ManualAll plants
Butterfly Orchid
Encyclia tampensis
Family: Orchidaceae
- Florida Native Orchid
- Epiphytic: Grown Mounted, Not in Soil
- FDACS Commercially Exploited: Buy Nursery-Propagated Only
- Blooms May Through July
Pet & Human Safety
People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
We found no source on toxicity to pets or people for this plant.
PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.
Poison control
If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.
Naturalist Lore
Historical Background & Breeding Lore
The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonCare
- Hardiness zones
Not given a USDA zone number by UF/IFAS; described as freeze-tolerant, which is why it's popular at the northern edge of its Florida range.
- Water needs
not stated by the cited source(s)
- Mature size
Not given by UF/IFAS.
How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.
Get the app: coming soonAnatomy & Guilds
Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics
How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.
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Field Doctor
What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonVintage Plates
Vintage Plates
Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonSources
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Florida's Native Orchids (section on Encyclia tampensis) (Checked October 2026)
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Regulated Plant Index, Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055 (Checked October 2026)
- Kew Plants of the World Online, Encyclia tampensis (Lindl.) Small (Checked October 2026)
- Florida Statute 581.185(3)(c), Regulated Plant Index enforcement (Checked October 2026)