Bloomipedia
Florida butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis)
Photo: Jay Horn via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Florida butterfly orchid

Encyclia tampensis

Native to Florida

Florida butterfly orchid is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

1states
4,578FL sightings*
4,579U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Encyclia tampensis or Tampa butterfly orchid is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, subfamily Epidendroideae. It has been placed in Encyclia sect. Hymenochila.

  • It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 1 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,578 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #45 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

Florida butterfly orchid gift ideas

Handmade florida butterfly orchid gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (314 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
Commercially exploited On Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055): commercially exploited (harvest needs landowner permission). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Florida's rare plant list (commercially exploited); NatureServe ranks it S3 in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Florida Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tampensis)” (Encyclia tampensis) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Florida butterfly orchid in 1 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida.

Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia.

More Florida flowers

Toothpetal false reinorchid (Habenaria floribunda)

Toothpetal false reinorchid

Habenaria floribunda

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–December
White beggarticks (Bidens alba)

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–December
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: April–July

Sources