Butterfly orchid
Psychopsis papilio
Also called Psychopsis and Papilio orchid
Houseplant · OrchidsNEVER CUT THE FLOWER SPIKE. It produces one bloom at a time from the same long stem, for years — cutting it back after a flower drops ends the whole sequence, and that is the single commonest way one is ruined.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Once a weekSilver roots, then soak — read the roots — silver means thirsty, green means leave it alone.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- High
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Trinidad to Peru
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.