Sunset Valley Orchids
Fred Clarke
1255 Navel Place
Vista, CA 92081

fred.clarke@att.net

Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Green Apple’ AM/AOS

A new Fredclarkeara hybrid, Mo. Painted Desert breeding has well documented qualities the addition of the ‘Green Apple’ will give larger flower size, large full lips and improve flower count. Color is harder to predict a dark red stripe with an apple green…. I do expect to see a range of colors but I think most will be dark spotted flowers with a yellow background color. I am expecting 25 or more flowers per stem.

Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Amazing’ x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’

How do you improve on After Dark?  I have always thought a big flat lip would look nice. So how do you do that? Cross it with Ctsm. pileatum ‘SVO Blood Red’ with its 3.5” wide lip. Expectation is for dark red burgundy flowers (possible a few black ones) with 15-20 per stem, broad lips and 5+ weeks of flower life. This is a very promising hybrid.  Only a few available

Fdk. After Dark ‘Morning After’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Green Apple’ AM/AOS

A green After Dark! This is the only plant I have seen bloom in this color. It came from the collection of the late Jim Clarkson.  I was truly shocked to see an After Dark with a green color and very appreciative of the division he gave to me.  This breeding is towards solid green flowers, I expect there will be some in other colors.  Large lips, long flower life and high flower count will result.

Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Black Pearl’ FCC/AOS (Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS)

‘SVO Black Pearl’ is one the best ‘black flowered’ types, when mature it produces 2-4 pendant inflorescences per bulb, carrying 15-22 flowers each.  It is one of the best growers and bloomers of the grex, flowers last 6-7 weeks.   These clones and are mature blooming size plants to flower this year.

Fdk. After Dark ‘Sunset Valley Orchids’ FCC/AOS (Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS)

‘Sunset Valley Orchids’ FCC/AOS is the best of the ‘spotted flowered’ types, it produces 2-3 pendant inflorescences per bulb, carrying 13-20 flowers that last 6 or more weeks. It is an excellent grower and the spotted flowers are amazingly beautiful.  These clones are mature blooming size plants to flower this year.

(Clo. Aleana Lawson 'Lanie's Warm Fuzzie' AM/AOS x Ctsm. Bound for Glory 'Jumbo')

Clo. Aleana Lawson (Ctsm. cristatum x Cl. Rebecca Northen) is a darling flower with a frilly lip; it produces 2-3 inflorescences per bulb caring 15-19 flowers each. The Ctsm. Bound for Glory (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. pileatum) has a rich red flower color and a natural spread of 4”. This is an advanced Clowesetum (Clo.) hybrid. Here we are expecting improved flower size, red to yellow blooms, and maintaining the frilly lip and flower longevity.  These advanced Clowesetum crosses are raising the bar in flower quality.  Blooming size.

(Morm. Exotic Treat 'SVO #2'x Morm. rolfeana 'Natural World' AM/AOS)

New advanced breeding in Mormodes, these are much easier to grow than the species and reward you with spectacular shapes and colors. Here we have crossed the very showy Exotic Treat with an equally showy rolfeana. The flowers will be surprisingly large and colorful.  A very nice new breeding line.

(Clo. Jumbo Lace 'SVO' x Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS)

Clo. Jumbo Lace (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Ctsm. fimbriatum) is an attractive yellow flower with fine burgundy spotting and a fimbriatum lip; it also has good lasting qualities due to the influence of the Clowesia. Ctsm. Frilly Doris (Ctsm. Doris’s Choice x Ctsm. Donna Marie) produces flowers with heavily frilled lips, excellent shape and arrangement. This grex is one of the first advanced hybrids where a Clowesetum is back crossed to a Catasetum.  It is a given the lips will be frilly; flowers will be cream to yellow and carried 20 or more per inflorescence. These advanced Clowesetum crosses are raising the bar in flower longevity and quality.

(Ctsm. Susan Fuchs 'Burgundy Chips' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum 'SVO II' AM/AOS)

Ctsm. Susan Fuchs is (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. expansum) the 'Burgundy Chips' has large flowers, great color and 15 plus flowers per stem. This denticulatum has a yellow lip with fine red spotting, 20-25 flowers and is a small plant, under 6” tall. Here we are breeding for reduced plant size while keeping the great flower color and high flower count. Pictures of the first to bloom. Picture of first bloom | 2

(Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum 'SVO II' AM/AOS)

Portagee Star (Ctsm. expansum x Ctsm. Black Knight) interestingly this grex has the 3 same parental species as the famous Ctsm. Donna Wise, pileatum, expansum, and tenebrosum.  ‘Brian Lawson’s Sunrise’ carries up to 15 flowers in shades of yellow and burgundy, very attractive. The denticulatum has a nice yellow lip, 25 flowers and is a small growing plant.  Here we are breeding in a new direction for reduced plant size while keeping good flower color and high flower count.

(Morm. andicola 'Priscilla' AM/AOS x Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan' )

Hybrids between Mormodes and Cycnoches have a high average of quality and this one is no exception. ‘Priscilla’ has deeply spotted burgundy flowers with an intense dark purple spotted lip, strong up right stems carry 13 -15 flowers each.  The ‘Giant Swan’ is a huge green flower with white lip. In this type of breeding the Cycnoches will impart its fine form and allow intense color of the Mormodes to come through.  These are vigorous, strong growing plants. Expect dark burgundy flowers with dark purple lips of excellent flower shape. These will be spectacular. Limited

(Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan' x Morm. elegans var. alba 'SVO' HCC/AOS)

This type of breeding between Mormodes and Cycnoches produce a high average of quality flowers. The Mormodes elegans var alba has a light lime-green base color with darker green stripes on all segments.  The ‘Giant Swan’ is a huge green flower with white lip. The Cycnoches will impart its fine form and allow intense color of the Mormodes to come through. These are vigorous, strong growing plants. Expect green flowers with darker green stripes! These will be spectacular.

Cycd. Bob Lewis (Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan' x Morm. ignea 'Hawaiian Orchid Source' AM/AOS)

Here we have remade Bob Lewis with a far superior Mormodes parent. The Mormodes ignea has orange-red flowers with heavy blood red spotting. This particular ignea flower has remarkably flat flower form, the flattest I have seen in a Mormodes. The 'Giant Swan' is a huge green flower with white lip. In this type of breeding the Cycnoches will impart its fine form and allow intense color of the Mormodes to come through. These are vigorous, strong growing plants. Expect orange to red flowers with heavy darker spotting.

Bob Lewis bloomed the first plant of the original cross and received an AM/AOS for his efforts and having it named in his honor. The cross above SVO 2229 is the remake and Bob purchased a couple plants last summer, and he bloomed the first one again! He took it to the Orchid Quest Show in Madison, WI and received another AM/AOS! 

(Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’ x Ctsm. John C. Burchett ‘Ursa Major’ FCC/AOS)

What we are after here are: big dark red flowers with huge flat lips.  This Ctsm. pileatum has the best red color out of many I have seen bloom.  The Ctsm. John C. Burchett is a pileatum/expansum based hybrid with the award indicating its quality.  These will be like a large flat red pileatum.  Very collectable, very nice and very limited

(Ctsm. Dragons Teeth ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum ‘SVO’)

This cross will be similar to the very successful Ctsm. Ten Dragons (Ctsm. Dragons Teeth x Ctsm. tenebrosum).  By using Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum will add its frilly lips and make for very dark burgundy red blooms on long stems carrying 25 or more flowers. A nice feature will be 2x blooming per season.

(Cyc. cooperi ‘Mem. Pat Worthington’ AM/AOS x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier ‘Phantom Spots’ AM/AOS)

‘Mem. Pat. Worthington’ has superbly shaped flowers in a rich dark red brown color it’s my favorite cultivar of cooperi.  The ‘Phantom Spots’ received an AM/AOS for Debora Longworth at the MAOC show in Mason, Ohio and is similar to the picture used as an example.  I must say that it was one of the most dramatic and beautiful Cyc. Jean E. Monnier I have seen.   This cross is designed to develop form and color of the flowers.  This advanced breeding will be very showy, like spotted bronze swans!

(Clo. Jumbo Lace ‘Yellow and Spots’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Leucadia’)

Jumbo Lace (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Ctsm. fimbriatum) a very attractive yellow with fine red spotting and fimbriated lip.  This plant has high count and very floriferous producing 3-4 infloresences per growth. Orchidglade ‘Leucadia’ came from the collection of Ralph Smith.  It has a good yellow background color with random red spots and is a reliable grower and bloomer.  This breeding will produce big yellow flowers with red spotting, we also expect improved flower longevity and a multi spiking habit.

(Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum ‘SVO’)

The v. morrenianum is the dark burgundy red color variant of Ctsm. fimbriatum. It passes on the dark color and fimbriated lip to its hybrids.  Ctsm. Donna Wise is (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. tenebrosum) also has dark flower color and is a proven breeder.  These will be dark burgundy red flowers with frilly lips, very nice.

****Similar to 2352, just slightly different parents

Ctsm. Sheriff Frank Drew
(Ctsm. Frilly Doris ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs ‘Burgundy Chips’ FCC/AOS)

Ctsm. Frilly Doris produces stems of 20-25 heavily spotted flowers with coarse frilly lips of excellent shape and arrangement; it is a great grower and parent.  The famous ‘Burgundy Chips’ is huge with beautifully spotted flowers.  So what to expect?  Deeply colored flowers with heavy spotting and ruffled lips!  A very showy cross with lots of potential.

(Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Lee’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum ‘SVO’)

I believe this will be a very nice hybrid so I made it two ways. Similar to SVO 2347, I just used a different Ctsm. Donna Wise.

(Ctsm. Bela Vista’s Sangria ‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum ‘SVO’)

‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ has a shocking deep purple color.  By using Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum as a parent will add its color and frilly lip making for a very dark burgundy to purple red blooms on long stems carried 15 or more. Excellent, unusual color here.

Ctsm. Louise Clarke (Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Lee’ HCC/AOSx Ctsm. Susan Fuchs ‘Burgundy Chips’ FCC/AOS)

Here is an exact remake of a cross made in 2009.  This is what I said about its potential then, “This is quite possibly the best of ‘type’ breeding in the pileatum/expansum group. These will be large deep red and spotted flowers carried 13-15 or more per stem.”  I was wrong about one thing …. 24-26 flowers were produced on several mature plants last fall!  The cross was so good I named it after my mother; that is a high honor!   Once again it is available and they will be equally as good. Picture from earlier cross

(Cl. rosea ‘Pink’ x Cl. rosea ‘SVO’)

These are very hard to find.  I have sib crossed the 2 best in my collection.  These are in limited supply and they will sell fast. Very collectable, cute pinks with fuzzy lips to bloom on leafless bulbs.

(Cyc. haagii ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x self)

This is a rarely seen Cycnoches species.  The ‘SVO’ cultivar has flowered with as many as 95 flowers on 5 inflorescence’s all produced from one bulb! The flowers are olive green with darker green venation and the lip is light cream pink covered with red spots. Very nice.

(Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOSx Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt ‘Ed Wise’)

Mo. Painted Desert (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Morm. sinuata) is the reason why the world famous Fdk. After Dark (Mo. Painted Desert x Ctsm. Donna Wise) grex is so fantastic.  This hybrid will similar and quite possibly better than Fdk. After Dark The Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt is made up of (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. Orchidglade). The addition of Ctsm. Orchidglade doubles up the genes of the large flowered Ctsm. pileatum and Ctsm. expansum.  This then should allow for larger flowers, lips and the dark color to come thru. It is hard to improve on the world famous Fredclarkeara After Dark but this may do it….  Very limited, don’t miss out on these.

(Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Frilly Doris ‘SVO Yellowest’)

The hybrid genus Fredclarkeara (Fdk.) has some superb characteristics like, long lived flowers, heavy substance high flower count and multiple spike habit.  Here we are taking the Fdk. grex and its good traits in a new direction.  The Mo. Painted Desert (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Morm. sinuata) has proven its self as an excellent parent. By crossing it with Ctsm. Frilly Doris with its coarse fimbriated lip and light yellow flowers with spots is the start in a new line of breeding. We will be seeing long lived flowers, amazing flower colors and high flower counts.  I am very excited about the potential of this new hybrid.

(Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs ‘Burgundy Chips’ FCC/AOS)

As with the cross SVO 2392 and SVO 2390 we are looking for new types of Fdk. flowers. Ctsm. Susan Fuchs ‘Burgundy Chips’ is a very large yellow flower with burgundy spots it’s also a reliable breeder, the awards speaks for its quality. Here we are expecting long lived blooms, improved flower size and large lips in a range of colors.  I can hardly wait to see these new Fdk. hybrids bloom. This one has huge potential

(Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVOII' AM/AOS x Ctsm. pileatum 'Big Boy')

Ctsm. Frilly Doris (Ctsm. Doris’s Choice x Ctsm. Donna Marie) is a hybrid of pileatum, fimbriatum, and cristatum producing heavily spotted flowers with coarse frilly lips of excellent shape and arrangement. Pileatum will increase the lip size as well as overall flower size. These have excellent vigor and great potential for surprisingly large flowers with big frilly lips. A nice cross produced from my friend Jamie Lawson of Florida.

Clo. Jumbo York (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Sun Rise’ JC/AOS)

Clowesetum (Clo.) hybrids are made up of a Clowesia x Catasetum.  They have several important traits like: improved flower life, multiple spiking habit, good form, and fragrance. This grex will have yellow colored flowers with possibly a bit of orange in them.  I don’t believe this cross has ever been sold in the USA…

Clo. Pierre Couret (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’)

Here we are breeding for long lived red colored Clowesetum flowers.  The Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale has amazing dark red color. The Cl. Rebecca Northen (Cl. Grace Dunn x Cl. rosea) will assure multiple spiking habit, frilled lips and improved flower life. I do expect colors to range from green to red with the most desirable being the red ones!

(Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt ‘Ed Wise’)

Here we are also looking for long lived red Clowesetum flowers.  The Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. Orchidglade) will double up the genes of the large flowered Ctsm. pileatum & Ctsm. expansum and add the dark color of Ctsm. tenebrosum to the mix.  These last three hybrids listed with Cl. Rebecca Northen in them are really exciting and will produce many fantastic hybrids.

Cl. Rebecca Northen (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Hill Top’)
Rebecca Northen (Cl. Grace Dunn x Cl. rosea) is a famous hybrid due to its name sake and great flowers.  The small plants bloom after the leaves have dropped on pendulous inflorescences, the flowers are light pink with fimbriate lips and are quite fragrant. 

Cyc. Martha Clarke (Cyc. herrenhusanum x Cyc. barthiorum )

After a long wait this cross is available again. Cyc. Martha Clarke produced the first tangerine colored flowers in Cycnoches. We have not flowered any of this batch yet but we are expecting excellent results, don’t miss out these….  Pictures from previous batch 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5