Medium sized cattleya orchid shaped flowers, usually two or more per flower stalk begin to appear in fall and carry through early winter. The flowers originate from the creeping stem instead of from the pseudobulb as most orchids do. Often referred to as a "blue orchid", the flowers are actually lavender with a darker lip and yellow blotch below the nectar guides.

The search for a "blue orchid" consumed a number of 18th and 19th century plant explorers. Cattleya walkeriana var. coerulea was discovered by Mr. Walker (British botanist) in Brazil and the name was published by G. Gardner in the London Journal of Botany in 1843.