Aerangis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Schltr.
The Magnificent Aerangis, Magnificent Aerangis
Aerangis fastuosa is a miniature epiphytic orchid from the evergreen montane forests of northern and eastern Madagascar, where it grows on the twigs and small branches of forest trees at 910–1,700 m elevation — a cooler, mist-drenched environment that sets it apart from many tropical orchids. Each plant is tiny: a very short stem carries a fan of thick, obovate, blue-grey-green leaves rarely spanning more than 8–10 cm tip to tip, yet it produces flowers disproportionately large for its size — pure white, star-shaped blooms up to 5 cm across, each with a long curved nectar spur, appearing on short arching inflorescences of 1–6 flowers in late winter to spring. The flowers are powerfully fragrant after dark, releasing a jasmine-like scent that is characteristic of many Madagascar angraecoid orchids. In cultivation it does best mounted on cork bark or fine bark mix at cool-to-intermediate temperatures, with high humidity and strong air movement — conditions a well-ventilated closed terrarium or orchidarium can provide well.
Build a terrarium with this plant
Photo by Kai Squires·CC BY 4.0
Care
Light
Humidity
Temperature
Soil
Moisture
Soil pH
Appearance
Growth habit
Leaf shape
Leaf texture
Distribution
Propagation
References
- 1
POWO (Kew) — Aerangis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Schltr. (accepted name, authority, family Orchidaceae; native range N. & E. Madagascar; epiphytic subshrub, wet tropical biome; synonyms: Angraecum fastuosum Rchb.f., Angorkis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Rhaphidorhynchus fastuosus (Rchb.f.) Finet)
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:615006-1 - 2
IOSPE (orchidspecies.com) — Aerangis fastuosa (common name: The Magnificent Aerangis; distribution: transitional zone coastal plains/central plateau Madagascar, evergreen forests at 1000–1700 m on twigs and small branches; cool growing; flowers 5 cm diameter, lily-scented at night; inflorescence short 5 cm, 1–6 flowered; bloom season late winter to spring; leaves obovate to oblong-cuneiform, fleshy, unequally bilobed)
https://www.orchidspecies.com/aerfastuosa.htm - 3
OrchidWeb — Aerangis fastuosa (intermediate-warm classification; low-medium light; pure white flowers with night fragrance; bloom season fall-winter; cork slab mounting; CITES Appendix II)
https://www.orchidweb.com/orchids/angraecoid/species/aerangis-fastuosa - 4
OrchidWeb — Angraecoid Orchid Care (day temps 21–29 °C, night temps 14–17 °C; humidity 50–70% for genus; semi-shaded ~2000 fc; NZ sphagnum or medium-grade orchid bark; cork slab mounting)
https://www.orchidweb.com/orchid-care/angraecoid-orchid-care - 5
AOS (American Orchid Society) — Aerangis genus (medium-bright light; medium-grade epiphyte mix or slab mounting; allow roots to dry slightly between waterings; white starry fragrant flowers; elongate nectar spurs)
https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchids-a-to-z/letter-a/aerangis.aspx - 6
J&L Orchids — Aerangis fastuosa BS (plant description: small Phalaenopsis-like, round olive-green leaves; large white flowers; fabulous night fragrance; orange-red root tips; grown in 2–3 inch baskets)
https://jlorchids.com/aerangis-fastuosa-bs/ - 7
Travaldo's Blog — Aerangis fastuosa care and culture (summer days 24 °C, summer nights 17–18 °C, winter days 18–19 °C, winter nights 12–13 °C; humidity ~85% year-round dropping to ~80% in spring; light 12,000–25,000 lux filtered; strong air movement required at all times; fine fir bark mix or bark slab; heavy watering when growing, reduce in winter never fully dry; fertiliser 1/4–1/2 strength weekly; dwarf epiphyte endemic to eastern Madagascar ~910 m)
https://travaldo.blogspot.com/2018/09/aerangis-fastuosa-orchid-plant-care-and-culture.html - 8
Orchid.guru — Aerangis fastuosa (temperature preferred 16–22 °C, natural range 12–24 °C, cool to intermediate; humidity 81–86%; light 8,000–27,000 lux; height 4–8 cm; leaves leathery oblong 2–8 cm; flowers fragrant 1–8 cm; wet-dry cycle watering; baskets/suspended pots/mounted; moderately forgiving)
https://www.orchid.guru/content/orchids/a/aerangis/fastuosa/ - 9
Araflora — Aerangis fastuosa (day temps 15–25 °C, min 15 °C, max 30 °C, intermediate to warm; humidity 60–90%; semi-shade, no direct sun; adult height <40 cm, width <10 cm; leaves thick textured grey-bluish sometimes with orange/pink edges; flowers pure white ~5 cm, 1–5 per stem, fragrant; suitable for small terrarium; mounting with sphagnum or medium bark; pH 5.5–7; never dry between waterings)
https://www.araflora.com/product/aerangis-fastuosa-orchid-white-fragrant-flowers/ - 10
Orchid Dynasty — Aerangis fastuosa (intermediate temperature; moderately bright light; foliage resembles miniature phalaenopsis; damp with slight dry between waterings; miniature sized; nocturnally fragrant)
https://orchiddynasty.com/aerangis-fastuosa/ - 11
Orchids in Bloom (Ron's Blog) — Aerangis fastuosa (leaf span ~8 cm; flower ~5 cm with long tails; white, fragrant at night; bloom late winter to spring; does well in intermediate to cool conditions; one of the smaller Aerangis species)
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/12/aerangis-fastuosa.html - 12
Pumpkin Beth — Aerangis fastuosa (miniature epiphytic orchid, mountain forests 900–1750 m; intermediate to warm-growing; heavily night-fragrant jasmine-like scent; white flowers; flowers July–December; successfully grown in BiOrbAir and Rainforest Terrariums; moth-pollinated)
https://www.pumpkinbeth.com/plants/aerangis-fastuosa/ - 13
Angraecums.blogspot.com — Growing Aerangis Species & Hybrids (A. fastuosa listed among smaller species suitable for growing under lights; mounted culture; coarse medium for fast drainage; general Aerangis care)
http://angraecums.blogspot.com/2013/11/growing-aerangis-species-hybrids.html - 14
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Orchidaceae (Phalaenopsis Orchid and Jewel Orchid confirmed non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses; Aerangis not individually listed; orchids broadly considered non-toxic in the family)
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/phalaenopsis-orchid