SVO

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

fred.clarke@att.net

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Plant Offerings

Sunset Valley Orchids 2018 Catasetinae Plant Offering

We are pleased to offer this comprehensive selection of Catasetinae hybrids and species for 2018.  Through the ongoing process of collecting, selecting, and developing our parental breeding lines, the quality of these new hybrids will set higher standards for flower quality, plant vigor, and, of course, your enjoyment!


This year our breeding program has focused on providing a variety of offerings:

  • There are several new Fredclarkeara hybrids. These are great plants with a robust growth habit, long-lived flowers, amazing color and superbly shaped blooms.
  • Advanced breeding lines for  Cycnoches are coming of age. The elegant swan-shaped blooms are truly breathtaking, and these new crosses are growing fast and blooming quickly!
  • By popular demand, we have begun to produce more standard-sized Catasetum crosses. The superior parental genetics are producing some really superb flowers.
  • The new “mini-Catasetum,” “mini-Clowesetum,” and “mini-Fredclarkeara” crosses are really exciting! The space-saving plant size makes room for these in every collection. 
  • Check out the Cycnodes (Cycnoches x Mormodes) - these are a match made in heaven. The best qualities of each parent come out when they are crossed together, resulting in fantastic color combinations and large flowers.
  • We have received many requests for Catasetinae species. In breeding these we have used the best possible parental stock to assure excellent flower quality and plant vigor. There are some fantastic things here, so please take your time in making decisions - or just get one of each!

The new Catasetinae list will be released in two parts, this being the first.  The second will follow approximately 5-6 weeks later.
Good growing,
Fred Clarke and Carlos Lopez

SVO 6110
Ctsm. New Hybrid(Ctsm. lucis 'Dana’s Bird of Paradise' AM/AOS x Ctsm. sanguineum 'Dark Dagon')

This may be a natural hybrid as we have seen flowers from plants labeled lucis that appear to have some influence of sanguineum in the blooms.  This cross will help validate that assumption.  Expect long, upright spikes with 15 or more flowers sharing the appearance of each parent. These are long lived Catasetum flowers, expect longevity of 3-4 weeks like the parents.  This is a "very cool" pairing. I am sure it's the first time to be offered.
3” pots

SVO 6487
Fdk. Beverly Danielson (Fdk. After Midnight 'SVO Dark Beauty' FCC/AOS' x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'Davies Ranches' AM/AOS)

With this cross we are taking the nearly perfect darkest burgundy flowers of Fdk. After Midnight 'SVO Dark Beauty' and pairing them with the huge lip and colorful spotted flower of Ctsm. Orchidglade.  Our experience has taught us that this type of hybrid makes for improved flower form.  The flower color of the progeny will range from solid deep burgundy to densely spotted burgundy, and a few might even be light yellow with bold red spots.  These will be unique and beautiful flowers. Here is the flower the cross was named after Pic
3” pots

SVO 6503  
Morm. New Hybrid (Morm. Wild Rainbow 'BB' x Morm. Nitty-Gritty 'Darkness')

The late season blooming of Mormodes signals that winter is nearly here, and the twisted flowers with bizarre colors and spicy fragrance typify these last Catasetinae blossoms of the season.  Wild Rainbow (andicola x rolfeana) was made by Brent Baker and has large flowers in burgundy spotted with dark burnt orange, and a spotted burgundy red lip - a very eye-catching color combination!  The large Nitty-Gritty (Exotic Treat x rolfeana) flowers are an extra dark burnt orange covered with burgundy spots, and a dark red lip.  This is a highly advanced Mormodes hybrid.  These plants are growing really well and will produce 3-4 inflorescences per bulb when mature.  Expect some amazing and unusually dark flower colors from this one!
3” pots

SVO 6542  
Ctsm. New Hybrid(Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS x Ctsm. José Abalo 'SVO')

Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) gives predictable results in its progeny by imparting good flower form, a fimbriate lip, and well-arranged flowers.  It is also a vigorous grower, blooming 3-4 times a season.  José Abalo (sanguineum x Orchidglade) has a 2 foot long stem carrying 20 dark burgundy flowers with black lips - really an outstanding plant!  This cross is all about color and frilly lips.  We will see 15-20 large, dark burgundy, spotted flowers on strong sturdy stems.  The lips will be a very dark color and have fimbriate edges.  These are larger growing plants that will really impress!
3” pots

SVO 6728  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Mo. Painted Desert 'SVO' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Melana Davison 'Fox Tail' )

This is a new direction in Fredclarkeara breeding - mini-Fredclarkearas!!!We understand Painted Desert as a parent, producing offspring with excellent form, color and flower longevity.  It is also a small-growing plant that matures at only 6” tall.  Here we've paired it with the superior flowers of the mini-Catasetum Melana Davison (Penang x denticulatum).  The combination will make this grex a star!  Flower colors will range from black through deep burgundy and spotted red/burgundy.  All will have excellent form, high flower count, and pleasing arrangement.  The plants will stay small and produce 2-3 inflorescences per bulb.  Check out the first to bloom Pic 1Pic 2, Pic 3   A great new hybrid with amazing flowers!!!
3” pots

SVO 6865  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Fdk. After Hours 'SVO Heaven Scent' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'JTM')

Fdk. After Hours is (Fdk. After Dark x Ctsm. John C. Burchett), and both parents have a proven history of producing many successful hybrids.  Here we are taking the recently awarded 'SVO Heaven Scent' FCC/AOS and   combining it with the equally prolific breeder Orchidglade 'JTM' (pileatum x expansum), with its dark burgundy flowers and huge lip.  This grex has all the ingredients for a superior hybrid: excellent shape, fantastic flower color, lots of flowers and bloom longevity.
3” pots

SVO 6867  
Ctsm. Green Dragon (Ctsm. schmidtianum 'SVO' x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'JTM')

This cross was inspired by some amazing pictures from the Brazilian grower Antonio Schmidt, for whom the species is named. The 'SVO' cultivar is the darker color form of Ctsm. schmidtianum, with relatively long 18-20” stems of 13-15 heavy, thick flowers with saccate, fimbriate lips. Orchidglade 'JTM' has very large, dark, solid burgundy flowers.  I expect plants from this grex to produce strong inflorescences carrying 13+ dark burgundy blooms.  I look forward to seeing how schmidtianum combines with Orchidglade and how 'JTM' influences color.  Don't expect to see any Green Dragons here - just Dark Dragons!!!
3” pots

SVO 6869  
Cyc. warscewiczii (Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO Jumbo Super' x Cyc. warscewiczii 'OMG')

I believe that this cross has the highest potential ever seen and will set a new standard in flower quality for this extremely desirable species.  The breeding history behind this pairing: 'SVO Jumbo Super' is ('SVO' AM/AOS x 'Jumbo Mutation'), and 'OMG' is ('SVO' AM/AOS x 'SVO II' AM/AOS).  Both of these have ridiculously wide petals and flat form.  This is as good as it gets!
3” pots

SVO 6878
Morm. New Hybrid (Morm. Midnight Hooker 'Fuzzy Lips' x Morm. Mark Mills 'Hot Lips')

Midnight Hooker is a cross between Morm. Midnight and Morm. hookeri, I just could not help myself … thus, the grex was named Midnight Hooker.  'Fuzzy Lips' has large, two-tone red flowers and, of course, fuzzy lips.  Mark Mills is spectacular, with 'Hot Lips' having vibrant red lips and dark burgundy petals on many-flowered inflorescences.  The first time I made this cross, the color of the offspring was truly amazing, and I just had to try a remake.  Check out these:  Pic 1   Pic 2  Pic 3
3” pots

SVO 6889
Fdk. New Hybrid (Fdk. Dark There After 'SVO Winters Night' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. Louise Clarke 'Very Dark' )

The cross Dark There After (Fdk. After Dark x Ctsm. Donna Wise) has produced a significant number of excellent plants, with five receiving AOS awards. 'SVO Winters Night' is the best seen, with high-quality flowers of amazing form, size and color, and a very broad almost-flat lip.  The FCC/AOS was well-deserved. My mother's namesake Catasetum is Louise Clarke (Susan Fuchs x Donna Wise).  Its large flowers and huge flat lips are very impressive, and this cultivar is a prolific bloomer with exceptionally dark flowersand a high flower count.  With this cross we expect to achieve excellent lip size.  The flowers will come in a range of hues, from dark red to yellow with burgundy spotting, and a few will even be black!
3” pots

SVO 6892  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. Anne-Kathrin Berger 'SVO' x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier 'Big and Bold')

The cross was made to develop a not-often-seen flower color - copper!  The Anne-Kathrin Berger (pentadactylon x herrenhusanum) has yellow flowers with red spots - a very attractive color combination - along with great flower form, high flower count and ease of plant growth. Jean E. Monnier (cooperi x barthiorum) has large flowers in a rich tan-bronze color with bold burgundy spots.  I love to see new developments in flower color, and I'm really looking forward to these!
3” pots

SVO 7167
Ctsm. tenebrosum (Ctsm. tenebrosum 'Jim' AM/AOS x Ctsm. tenebrosum 'Ed Wise #2' AM/AOS)

A great quality of this paring will be high flower count, excellent shape and color.  The cultivar ‘Jim’ blooms with 24-28 flowers per inflorescence and usually 2 are produced simultaneously, that makes for 50 plus flowers at a time!  I don’t recall ever seeing a more floriferous tenebrosum.   ‘Ed Wise #2’ has impeccable flower shape, its wide petals really make it shapely and showy, and it is one of the grandparents in the breeding of Fdk. After Dark. ‘Ed Wise #2’ is a long time proven breeder for shape and color.   This species produces the first blooms of season and is a ‘must have’ for every collection. 
3” pots

SVO 7168  
Ctsm. pileatum v. imperiale (Ctsm. pileatum v. imperiale  'Pierre Couret' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperiale 'SVO Blood Red')

The variety 'imperiale' is a desirable color form of pileatum.  It is recognizable by the red pigmentation on the flowers, whereas the typical color forms are light green or cream. Ctsm. pileatum is characterized by large flowers and huge lips; they are the kings of Catasetums! This is a beautiful color form of a great species.
3” pots

SVO 7169  
Ctsm. pileatum (Ctsm. pileatum v. imperiale 'Pierre Couret' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. pileatum 'Snow White' FCC/AOS)

Ctsm. pileatum is the 'King' of the Catasetums, with the largest flowers in the genus. 'Pierre Couret' was found many years ago in Venezuela and is a very unusual red color.  It is also an excellent bloomer, with 15 or more flowers per stem.  The cultivar 'Snow White' is the only Ctsm. pileatum to be awarded an FCC/AOS.  It's also the most floriferous cultivar in my collection, and a single bulb can produce two inflorescences holding as many as 25 pure white flowers each.  Here we are looking for new and unique flower color combinations for pileatum.  Expect a wide range of colors from red to white, and, of course, exceptionally high flower counts.  This is a great chance to acquire a new, highly floriferous pileatum in novel colors.
3” pots

SVO 7202  
(Clo. Black Jade 'Jamie's Green Goddess' x Ctsm. pileatum f. alba  'Snow White' FCC/AOS)

Black Jade's name is deceptive, as its flower color is a dark green with a prominent black blotch in the center of the lip.  It is a primary hybrid of (Cl. russelliana x Ctsm. expansum) and produces large flowers on long inflorescences with 25 or more blooms.  This pileatum is remarkable and can hold up to 25 pure white, very shapely flowers per stem! This cross was made to develop a high flower count; we are expecting 20 flowers per stem, and some may produce as many as 30!  The flowers will be large, in a range of colors from greens with black blotches on the lips to some solid whites.  Tremendous potential for spectacular flowering!
3” pots 

SVO 7204  
Cycd. New Hybrid (Cycd. Freckled Sweetheart 'SVO Best' x Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS)

This cross is similar to SVO 6721; however, we used a different Cyc. warscewiczii. A few things are going to happen when Freckled Sweetheart is crossed to warscewiczii, including improved flower size and shape.  Most importantly, the excellent color will come through.  It is remarkable that we had two capsules develop and produce seed this year.  I am really looking forward to seeing these!
3” pots

SVO 7206  
Cyc. Super Cooper (Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS x Cyc. Jumbo Cooper 'SVO' AM/AOS)

This cross is all about green flowers on long cascading inflorescences. The cross of Jumbo Cooper used the very green Cyc. cooperi 'Green Emerald' HCC/AOS and the exceptional  Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS as parents.  The offspring were high quality, with 3 receiving AOS awards.  Backcrossing Jumbo Cooper to warscewiczii will increase flower size, improve overall shape, reinforce the green flower color and increase flower size.  The plants are showing excellent vigor.
3” pots

SVO 7207  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS x Cyc. Dark Swan 'Bold Spots' )

I have been working diligently on Cycnoches for many years now, and I feel that these newest crosses are will be exceptional. Dark Swan is (Richard Brandon x Chloronge), and this is a complex hybrid with 5 species in its makeup: warscewiczii, loddigesii, chlorochilon, barthiorum and cooperi. 'Bold Spots' has a very dark bold spots nearly covering the petals and sepals. The addition of warscewiczii will widen the segments and improve substance. Flower color will range from olive green to dark burgundy.  These will be grow rapidly and bloom easily.
3” pots

SVO 7210
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Jumbo Lace 'SVO' x Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS)

These two parents, Jumbo Lace and Frilly Doris, have been successful in producing many good hybrids with frilly lips. I have always had a 'thing' for frilly lips, and with the new work in Clowesetum breeding, this was an obvious pairing. Jumbo Lace has quite a bit of yellow in its long-lived flowers, and Frilly Doris has bold spotting, large flowers and blooms 3-4 times a season. This cross will bring together some important qualities, and we expect to see plants flower from mid-summer through winter. Flower life will exceed 3 weeks, and the blooms will be light yellow with burgundy spotting and, of course, frilly lips!
3” pots

SVO 7212
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Karen Armstrong 'SVO' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Extravaganza 'SVO')

Ctsm. Karen Armstrong was one the first successful mini-Catasetum grexes, and many superior cultivars were produced. This Karen Armstrong has a creamy yellow flower with bold coalescing dark spotting. The parents of Extravaganza are (Karen Armstrong x Louise Clarke), representing the next generation of mini-Catasetum breeding.  The cultivar 'SVO' has a particularly large, colorful lip and flowers 3-4 times a year on a surprisingly small plant. This is the first cross of the third generation of mini-Catasetum breeding.  These will be small plants, maturing at 5-7” tall, and free-flowering with 2-3 inflorescences per season.  The flowers will have a yellow base color with bold burgundy spotting and blotching.  Everyone has room for this fantastic cross!!
3” pots

SVO 7213  
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Upper Echelon 'SVO Sunburst' x Ctsm. John Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS)

Upper Echelon (Clo. Jumbo Lace x Ctsm. Orchidglade) is a second-generation Clowesetum hybrid with exceptionally nice color, shape, size and flower longevity. Crossing it to the remarkable John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' with its dark color and huge lip will make this a third generation Clowesetum hybrid. The offspring will exhibit many traits of the Catasetum parent: larger flowers; flatter, fuller lips and richer colors. Also, expect flower longevity to be at 3-4 weeks.  These will surprise you with their outstanding flower quality!
3” pots

SVO 7214  
Cl. russelliana (Cl. russelliana 'David N' x self)

Cl. russelliana 'David N' is exceptionally floriferous.  Mature plants can produce 2 or 3 inflorescences per bulb, each carrying up to 40-45 flowers!  This native of southern Mexico blooms in the early summer with light green flowers, striped dark green.  As a bonus, the fragrance is magnificent!  The parent is a superior plant, and selfing will help to consolidate its good qualities.  Not often seen for sale - these will go quickly!
3” pots

SVO 7215
Fdk. New Hybrid (Mo. Painted Desert 'SVO' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. callosum 'Black Lip' AM/AOS)

This is a truly novel Fredclarkeara hybrid. I have been waiting several years to have this available - the potential is tantalizing!  Painted Desert has a well-documented and long history of breeding excellent offspring, adding color, shape and flower longevity. This the first cross with the 'Black Lip' cultivar of callosum.  Its color is exceptional, and inflorescences have high flower count and beautiful arrangement.  This pairing has tremendous potential!  Will the flowers be like black stars?
3” pots

SVO 7218  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Fdk. After Hours 'Dark Thirty' x Fdk. Enter Light 'SVO Dark Beauty' FCC/AOS)

Here is a hybrid with highly awarded parents.  Both parents of this After Hours (Fdk. After Dark 'SVO' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS) have FCC's, and 'Dark Thirty' has FCC quality flowers as well!  Enter Light 'SVO Dark Beauty' FCC/AOS is the best of the best!  Its shape, color, form, ease to bloom, fragrance and flower life are all superior.  This and SVO 7226 are the second and third times a Fredclarkeara has been crossed to another Fredclarkeara!  The opportunity for exceptional offspring is mind boggling.
3” pots

SVO 7219  
Cycd. Spotted Hornet (Morm. Exotic Treat 'SVO' AM/AOS   x Cyc. warscewczii 'SVO Swan' )

Spotted Hornet already has received an AM and a FCC/AOS!  Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO Swan' has fantastic flower quality, and the Exotic Treat (sinuata x tuxtlensis) has amazing color.  These are going to have bright yellow flowers with bold burgundy spotting, and the blooms will have excellent shape and size.  This grex has very high award potential!  Here are pictures of the awarded plants Pic 1Pic 2
3” pots

SVO 7222
Morm. andreettae (Morm. andreettae 'SVO' AM/AOS x self)

This Mormodes is named in honor of Father Angel Andreetta, a missionary and orchid collector. The flower color is almost orange and quite eye-catching, and the upright stems display 15 or more blooms.  This species is native to Ecuador along the eastern slopes of the Andes and has proven to be easy to grow.  So far as I know, this is the first offering in the USA of this very unusual and highly collectable species.
3” pots

SVO 7223
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs 'Leucadia' x Ctsm. tigrinum 'SVO')

Reducing plant size while not compromising floral quality and quantity is the breeder's challenge. Susan Fuchs (Orchidglade x expansum) has been making significant contributions to modern Catasetum hybrids, and its large flowers, good shape, ease of growth and ability to flower several times a season make it a great candidate for this new hybrid.  Ctsm. tigrinum is a small growing plant with pseudobulbs less than 6” tall.  Plants bloom several times throughout the season, producing whitish flowers that are spotted light red on pendulous inflorescences with 15-25 flowers each. This species has wide petals that make attractive, full-shaped flowers.  We have bloomed several test crosses, and this fullness appears to be a dominant characteristic - very good news!  The expectation is for 15-20 good-sized flowers with excellent shape, produced several times a season, all on a small plant that deserves the name 'mini-Catasetum.'  This is a very promising new look in Catasetinae breeding.
3” pots

SVO 7224  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan' x Cyc. Richard Brandon 'Extra Wide Petals')

Richard Brandon 'Extra Wide' has the widest petals imaginable for a Cycnoches hybrid.  The flowers are bronze colored, and the lip is densely spotted burgundy. Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan' is an outstanding line bred variety that has nearly perfect form and heavy substance.  These will have superior shape, high flower count, spotted lips and green to bronze flowers. This is a cross with superior potential.
3” pots

SVO 7236  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. juruenense 'Best Select 40' x Ctsm. pileatum 'Snow White' FCC/AOS)

Several years ago I saw this primary hybrid pictured in the Catasetum Brazil Facebook group.  It was surprisingly nice, so I decided to remake it.  Ctsm. juruenense 'Best Select 40' is the best quality flower, and the stem holds 40 blooms.  Yes, 40 flowers!!!  The pileatum is exceptional, with 25 spectacular flowers per inflorescence. This cross holds all the potential for high flower count and shapely blooms. I can hardly wait to see them bloom!
3” pots  

SVO 7238
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Jumbo Lace 'SVO' x Ctsm. denticulatum 'Orange Lip')

Jumbo Lace was one of the early successful Clowesetum (Catasetum x Clowesia)  hybrids.  The flowers have nice color, good form and longevity of 3-4 weeks.  The 'SVO' cultivar has great arrangement and flower count, plus plants bloom 2-3 times a season, starting in the fall.  The denticulatum is a selection of the sibling cross of ('SVO' AM/AOS x 'SVO II' AM/AOS).  It has great color and was very quick to bloom from flask. This combination will make a mini-Clowesetum hybrid.  I believe this breeding has a place in every collection.  The plants are under 6” tall, bloom in fall/winter, and have colorful flowers that last 3-4 weeks.
3” pots

SVO 7242  
Cycd. Bob Lewis (Morm. ignea 'SVO' HCC/AOS x Cyc. warscewiczii 'Super Select')

Here we have remade Bob Lewis with a unique Mormodes parent. The Mormodes ignea has reddish flowers with darker red striping; the lip is light yellow/gold with a sparkling texture. This particular ignea has strong upright inflorescences showing off the flowers nicely.  Cyc. warscewiczii 'Super Select' is just that!  It is one of the best to bloom out of many years of line breeding and has a huge green flower with a white lip.  In this type of breeding the Cycnoches will impart its fine form and allow the intense color of the Mormodes to come through. These are vigorous, strong-growing plants. Expect orange to red flowers with heavy darker spotting or striping. These will be spectacular!
3” pots

SVO 7243
Ctmds. New Hybrid (Ctmds. Dragon's Tail 'Dark Tale' x Ctsm. John C. Burchett' Ursa Major' FCC/AOS)

If any cross in this listing will break new ground, this is the one!  A bit of history: Dragons Tail first was used as a parent with Ctsm. Orchidglade, resulting in Ctmds. Dragons Glade.  Check out these pictures  Pic 1    Pic 2  Pic 3  Pic 4   Yes - every plant flowered with excellent blooms!!  We did not anticipate this would be such a sensational hybrid, but it made us eager to use Dragons Tail again.  Here we have made a similar cross with Ctsm. John C. Burchett, which has a commanding flower in very dark burgundy with an even darker, huge flat lip.  I anticipate that this grex will produce even more spectacular offspring than the first cross.  The flowers will be large with flat lips, and some will bloom spotted while others will be solid black.  Do not miss out on these!
3” pots

SVO 7244  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. Anne-Kathrin Berger 'SVO' x Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO Best')

I've been breeding for Cycnoches with yellow flowers and red spots, a combination that I really like.  Cyc. Anne-Kathrin Berger (pentadactylon x herrenhusanum) has this color combination as well as great flower form, high flower count and ease of plant growth.  This warscewiczii has great flower quality and is a reliable, vigorous plant that has been an important part of my breeding program. The hope is for a percentage of yellow flowers with fine red spots.  Flower shape will be excellent, and the pendent inflorescences will have 13-15 well-arranged flowers.  I am very optimistic about the results here.
3” pots

SVO 7247  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Fdk. Enter Light 'SVO Grasshoper' AM/AOS' x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'Green Apple' AM/AOS)

Much of the recent Fredclarkeara breeding has been tailored to emphasize dark-colored flowers, but other colors have not been forgotten!  One of the most spectacular flower colors is green.  Enter Light 'SVO Grasshopper' has excellent shape and a clear green flower with a sprinkling of fine red spots at the base of the column.  Orchidglade 'Green Apple' is a ridiculously large green flower with a huge flat lip as big as your hand, and the long inflorescences hold 15-16 flowers each.  We have learned that breeding Fredclarkearas back to Catasetums with huge flat lips leads to flatter lips and larger flowers.  The doubling up of green flower color will give a high percentage of greens.  Just a great cross with tremendous potential for amazing, long-lasting pure green flowers.
3” pots

SVO 7248  
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Pierre Couret 'SVO Candy Apple Red' AM/AOS x Ctsm. Melana Davison 'Red')

Bright red Clowesetum flowers are a breeding challenge. Sometimes it takes just one plant to unlock the red potential, and we are hoping Pierre Couret 'SVO Candy Apple Red' is just that plant.  Its flower color is as the cultivar name indicates, and flowers have excellent shape, beautiful form, and are presented with excellent arrangement on pendulous inflorescences. Melana Davison (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs x Ctsm. denticulatum) has been a landmark hybrid for breeding reduced plant size while maintaining excellent flower size, shape, color, and count. The cultivar 'Red' had particularly high flower count and a good red color.  These will be mini-Clowesetums, with plants under 6” tall, easily producing several many-flowered inflorescences per bulb in the fall/winter.  I am expecting flower color to range from deep red to rose.
3” pots

SVO 7249  
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Upper Echelon 'SVO Sun Blast' x Ctsm. José Abalo 'SVO')

Upper Echelon (Clo. Jumbo Lace x Ctsm. Orchidglade) is a second-generation Clowesetum hybrid with exceptionally nice color, shape, size and flower longevity. José Abalo (sanguineum x Orchidglade) has a 2 foot long stem carrying 20 dark burgundy flowers with black lips - really outstanding!  This is a third-generation Clowesetum hybrid, and the offspring will exhibit many traits of the José Abalo: larger flowers, rich burgundy colors, and flower longevity of 3 weeks or more.  These might be a real surprise when they begin to flower!  I am setting aside a few of these to observe…
3” pot

SVO 7273  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. Jean E. Monnier 'Darkest Ever' x Cyc. Richard Brandon 'SVO III')

This cross represents some of the most modern breeding in Cycnoches today.  As the advanced breeding is taking us farther away from the influence of the species, we are finding that the plants are easier to grow and flower at a very young age. This Jean E. Monnier (cooperi x barthiorum) has a high flower count, but what's truly amazing are the very dark flowers in a rich burgundy/chocolate color, the 'Darkest Ever.'  Cyc. Richard Brandon (Cyc. warscewiczii x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier) was a real breakthrough: superbly-shaped flowers with shield-shaped lips, high flower count, heavy substance and amazing colors. The expectation here is for bronze flowers with darker burgundy spots, shield-shaped lips, and long inflorescences carrying 20 or more flowers.  Some will be solid dark burgundy and highly desirable! You can't go wrong with this one or the similar cross SVO 7296.
3” pots

SVO 7275  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Fdk. Enter Light 'SVO Dark Beauty' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS)

Enter Light 'SVO Dark Beauty' FCC/AOS is (Fdk. After Dark x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperiale).  This FCC cultivar is the best of the best: its shape, color, form, ease to bloom, fragrance and flower life are all superior.  John C. Burchett (Ctsm. João Stivalli x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs) in one of the most impressive of the modern pileatum-based Catasetum hybrids.  Its rich burgundy color and huge, flat, nearly-black lips make this a sight to behold!  Superior flower size, color, shape, longevity and fragrance all should be evident in this excellent breeding line.
3” pots

SVO 7280  
Ctsm. lucis (Ctsm. lucis 'SVO'  x Ctsm. lucis 'Dana's Bird of Paradise' AM/AOS)

Ctsm. lucis was discovered in 1994 in the disputed border area between Colombia and Venezuela.  Only a few plants were found, and we were fortunate to acquire some in 2007.  The plants faithfully bloom male each season, and several crosses have been made with female flowers of other catasetums.  I was beginning to wonder if these ever produced female flowers.  Finally, in 2016 a plant produced female flowers, and a successful sib cross was made.  It is hard to believe, but this cross is the result of waiting 9 years for female flowers!!!  What make this Catasetum remarkable are the upright inflorescences 4' or more in length that carry 20+ green flowers with white lips!  As a bonus, flowers last is 3-4 weeks, which is very unusual for a Catasetum.  These are large, robust plants and very rare in cultivation.  Don't miss out on this one!
3” pots

SVO 7281  
Ctsm. New Hybrid Ctsm. lucis 'SVO' x Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS)

After the success of the two previous hybrids with Ctsm lucis - Ctsm. Edgardo A. Pauneto (Frilly Doris x lucis) receiving 5 awards and Ctsm. Richard Fulford (Orchidglade x lucis) with 3 awards - this new cross promises to be equally successful. The strong upright inflorescences of lucis can reach over 4' tall, with 20+ flowers that last 3-4 weeks. Ctsm. John C. Burchett has been in our stable of breeding plants for many years and has proven its ability to create superb offspring.  These will be well-shaped flowers with nice flat lips produced on strong stems. Flower color will range a bit, with many being spotted, and a few will be solid color in deep burgundy.  One nice feature will be improved flower longevity, a highly desirable trait that lucis passes to its offspring
3” pots

SVO 7290  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Louise Clarke 'Wonder Woman' x Ctsm. John Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS)

Modern pileatum-based Catasetum hybrids are reaching new heights!  The huge shield-shaped lips and large flower size plus the bright bold colors of this breeding line really grabs your attention. Ctsm. Louise Clarke (my mother's namesake) has been receiving AOS awards for excellent color, size and presentation.  The cultivar 'Wonder Woman' is a real standout, flowering 3-4 times a year with great flower presentation and color.  The FCC/AOS awarded to John C. Burchett is very telling  - its flower size, color and shape are amazing!  This cross will have boldly colored flowers in burgundy and yellow with very large flat lips, possibly 3” across!  The well-arranged flowers will appear 2-3 times a season and command attention.
3” pots

SVO 7295  
Mo. New Hybrid (Cl. Grace Dunn 'Live Oak' HCC/AOS x Morm. hookeri 'Black Fuzz')

Mormodias (Clowesia x Mormodes) are justifiably popular, as they have many excellent qualities, including showy flowers, high flower count, multi-spiking bulbs with pendulous inflorescences, nice fragrance and long-lived blooms!  They flower late each season on leafless bulbs.  Grace Dunn (warczewitzii x rosea) has been a productive parent, with its pink and green frilly-lipped flowers.  Morm. hookeri is one of my favorite Mormodes species, and this clone has a very dark red flower with a textured lip reminiscent of black velvet – very unusual.  Mormodes are dominant for color transmission, so expect flowers in shades of red to dark red with darker lips; some lips might even be a bit fuzzy. Similar to SVO 7304.
3” pots

SVO 7296  
Cyc. New Hybrid (Cyc. Jean E. Monnier 'Big & Bold' x Cyc. Richard Brandon 'Very Select')

This cross represents some of the most modern breeding in Cycnoches today. This Jean E. Monnier (cooperi x barthiorum) flowers with 25 boldly spotted bronze/copper-colored flowers per infloresence.  Cyc. Richard Brandon (Cyc. warscewiczii x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier) was a real breakthrough: superbly-shaped flowers with shield-shaped lips, high flower count, heavy substance and amazing colors. The expectation here is for bronze/green flowers with bold darker burgundy spotting on long inflorescences carrying 25 or more flowers.  You can't go wrong with this one or the similar cross SVO 7273.
3” pots

SVO 7297  
Clo. New Hybrid (Cl. Grace Dunn 'Live Oak' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Dentigrianum 'SVO Excellent')

I have been waiting for these to come out of the lab! Grace Dunn (warczewitzii x rosea) has been a productive parent, with its lemon-scented pink and green frilly-lipped blooms on many-flowered pendulous inflorescences in winter. Dentigrianum (denticulatum x tigrinum) is a beautiful flower with amazing color and form; check out the picture!  This is the first 2nd-generation hybrid with tigrinum, and we are expecting to see a positive influence of tigrinum on flower shape, with wide petals in the offpsring.  This combination makes a mini-Clowesetum hybrid, with plants under 6” tall that bloom in fall/winter and have colorful flowers that last 3-4 weeks. This is one of those must-get plants!
3” pots

SVO 7298  
Clo. New Hybrid (Cl. Grace Dunn 'Live Oak' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. tigrinum 'SVO')

Grace Dunn (warczewitzii x rosea) has been a productive parent, with its lemon-scented pink and green frilly-lipped blooms produced on many-flowered pendulous inflorescences in winter. Ctsm. tigrinum is a very special species: small-growing, and flowering several times a season with cascading inflorescences that each hold 15-30 white-cream blooms spotted lightly in red on the petals and sepals.  Equally important are the shape and placement of its wide petals, which fill the space between the dorsal and lateral sepals, creating a full-shaped flower that is transmitted to its offspring.  This is a great characteristic and very valuable in hybridization.  This mini-Clowesetum will flower at 4-6” tall and bear cascading inflorescences of flowers with excellent shape in pink, white and cream.  The long-lived flowers will be produced in fall and winter.  A very charming hybrid!
3” pots

SVO 7299
Clo. New Hybrid (Clo. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' x Ctsm. tigrinum 'Wyche' HCC/AOS)

This year we are trying some mini-Clowesetums.  The hybrid genus Clowesetum (Catasetum x Clowesia) is known for flower longevity and multiple simultaneous inflorescences.  Rebecca Northen (Grace Dunn x rosea) is a great parent!  With its fragrant pink frilly-lipped flowers it has produced many successful hybrids.  Ctsm. tigrinum is a very special species: small-growing, and flowering several times a season with cascading inflorescences that each hold 15-30 white-cream blooms spotted lightly in red on the petals and sepals.  Equally important are the shape and placement of its wide petals, which fill the space between the dorsal and lateral sepals, creating a full-shaped flower that is transmitted to its offspring.  This is a great characteristic and very valuable in hybridization.  This mini-Clowesetum will flower at 4-6” tall and bear cascading inflorescences of flowers with excellent shape in pink, white and cream.  The long-lived flowers will be produced in fall and winter.  This promises to be a very charming hybrid!
3” pots

SVO 7301  
Fdk. New Hybrid (Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS x Fdk. Dark There After 'SVO Winters Night' FCC/AO)

This is a very special pairing, as the Catasetum held the capsule in this hybrid, an unusual occurrence in Fredclarkeara breeding.  John C. Burchett (Ctsm. João Stivalli x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs) is among the most impressive of the modern pileatum-based Catasetum hybrids, with unusually rich burgundy color and huge, flat, nearly-black lips. The breeding of Dark There After is (Fdk. After Dark x Ctsm. Donna Wise), and the cross was quite successful, with 7 AOS awards.  The large, full-shaped flowers are a rich deep burgundy color. I have not yet seen a Fdk. cross bloom with a Catasetum as the capsule parent, and I must confess that I 'm really looking forward to seeing these.
3” pots

SVO 7302  
Ctsm. John C. Burchett (Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Ursa Major' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. John C. Burchett 'Julio Davis' AM/AOS)

This is one of, if not the most impressive of the modern pileatum-based Catasetum hybrids.  John C. Burchett (Ctsm. João Stivalli x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs) has rich burgundy color and huge, flat, nearly-black lips that are a sight to behold!  The siblings in this cross are of the highest quality: they both produce 10 or more flowers and bloom 2-3 times a season.  Huge flowers with very large, flat, dark lips.  This is an exceptionally fine modern pileatum hybrid, well worth adding to you collection.
3” pots

SVO 7304  
Mo. New Hybrid (Cl. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' x Morm. hookeri 'Black Fuzz')

Mormodias (Clowesia x Mormodes) are hot items.  They have many excellent qualities, including showy flowers, high flower count, multi-spiking bulbs with pendulous inflorescences, nice fragrance and long-lived blooms!  They are the last Catasetinae to flower each season, blooming on leafless bulbs.  Rebecca Northen (Grace Dunn x rosea) is a great parent, with its pink frilly-lipped flowers, and has been used in many successful hybrids. Morm. hookeri is one of my favorite Mormodes species, and this clone has a very dark red flower with a textured lip reminiscent of black velvet – very unusual.  Mormodes are dominant for color transmission, so expect flowers in shades of red to dark red with darker lips; some lips might even be a bit fuzzy.  Similar to SVO 7295.
3” pots

SVO 7305  
Clo. Alexandra Savva (Cl. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' x Ctsm. denticulatum 'SVO II' AM/AOS)

This is one of the most charming Rebecca Northen hybrids.  The flowers are light pink with a dense peppering of dark pink/red spots.  Mature bulbs produce 2-3 pendulous inflorescence in winter, each carrying 20-30 long-lived blooms in a nicely-arranged 'fox tail' cluster.  If you like Rebecca Northen, you will love this.  Here is a picture of a mature blooming plant.
3” pots

SVO 7306  
Clo. Joy Prout (Cl. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' x Ctsm. semicirculatum 'The  Best One')

Mini-Catasetums have been a successful new direction in breeding, so this year we are trying to release some mini-Clowesetums.  The hybrid genus Clowesetum (Catasetum x Clowesia) is known for flower longevity.  Rebecca Northen (Grace Dunn x rosea) is a great parent, with its pink frilly-lipped flowers, and has been used in many successful hybrids.  The pairing with semicirculatum, with its coarsely fimbriate lip and boldly spotted flowers, is an interesting one.  Both parents are small, compact growers with high flower counts.  Rebecca Northen has a densely-flowered inflorescence, and semicirculatum produces a long, arching stem.  Plenty of long-lived flowers from this mini-Clowesetum.  Flower color will range from clear pink to pink with spots, all with frilly lips.  Everyone has space for one of these!
3” pots

SVO 7307  
Clo. New Hybrid (Cl. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' x Ctsm. cirrhaeoides 'SVO Darkness')

Rebecca Northen (Grace Dunn x rosea) is a great parent, with its 'Lemon Pledge furniture polish' fragrance and many pink frilly-lipped flowers. This is a small-growing plant that reaches specimen size quickly and has been used in many successful hybrids.  Ctsm. cirrhaeoides 'SVO Darkness' is really amazing: this year it bloomed with 2 inflorescences and a total of 86 flowers!  The cultivar name was inspired by the dark flower color.  These  will be mini-Clowesetums, and plants will stay under 6” tall.  Approximately 25-35 flowers are expected per inflorescence, and each bulb should produce several inflorescences in late fall and winter.  Flowers will exhibit a range of colors from soft clear pink, to pink spotted to possibly solid dark burgundy.
3” pots

SVO 7309  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. tiginum 'Wyche' HCC/AOS)

Flower quality in Portagee Star is surprisingly nice, with just three species in its background: pileatum, expansum and tenebrosum.  The shape is full, the lip is flat and the color is an attractive yellow with a bit of red.  I strongly believe that Ctsm. tigrinum will be a positive influence on the offspring. Earlier crosses have shown that tigrinum imparts the desirable characteristic of wide petals, creating a full flower shape.  These will also be 'mini-Catasetums,' as the tigrinum will reduce plant size.  I can hardly wait to see a lot of these new crosses bloom, but I'm particularly interested in this one.  SVO 7314 is very similar but was made with a different cultivar of tigrinum.
3” pots

SVO 7310
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS x Ctsm. saccatum 'Brooklyn Botanical Garden' FCC/AOS)

The tried and true Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) imparts good flower form, fimbriate lips and well-arranged flowers.  It's a vigorous grower that blooms reliably 3-4 times a season with 23-26 flowers per inflorescence.  A First Class Certificate (FCC) is the highest accolade for flower quality given by the American Orchid Society (AOS).  This saccatum is truly outstanding and blooms with 25 flowers nearly 6” across on an inflorescence that is 3' long!!  As if that weren't enough, I have seen this plant flower 4 times in one season!!!  This is a 'novelty' type of breeding, and the flowers will be exotic-looking in burgundy tones, and the lips will be coarsely frilled.  There will be over 20 large flowers on each inflorescence, which will be produced 3-4 times a season.
3” pots

SVO 7311  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Melana Davison 'Fox Tail')

The flower quality of Portagee Star is surprisingly nice: the shape is full, the lip is flat and the color is an attractive yellow with a bit of red.  Melana Davison (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs x Ctsm. denticulatum) has been a landmark hybrid in the breeding of reduced plant size while maintaining excellent flower size, shape, color, and count.  It also has been recognized with 7 AM/AOS awards!  The mostly red flowers of 'Fox Tail' have an excellent presentation; the flower count is very high.  Here we have crossed the standard size Portagee Star onto a first generation mini-Catasetum Melana Davison.  These plants will still be small growers and stay under 8” tall.  I expect excellent flower form, increased bloom size and easy culture.  These should produce many-flowered inflorescences 2-3 times a season.  Flower color will vary from light yellow to dark red and everything in-between.
3” pots

SVO 7312  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. tenebrosum 'Ed#2' AM/AOS x Ctsm. Double Down 'BPYL')

This type of breeding has been in the planning for many years.  I have always wanted to breed Catasetums with dark burgundy segments and bright yellow lips.  Finally, here it is!  Ctsm. tenebrosum is a showy species and the cultivar used here has the best color and shape, with dark petals and sepals and a contrasting chartreuse lip. One of the important characteristics of tenebrosum as a parent is its early blooming.  This is one of the first Catasetums to flower each season, and the bloom spikes develop with the new growths, traits that are useful in developing early-to-bloom hybrids. Ctsm. Double Down (Chuck Taylor x kleberianum) produced many plants that flowered with dark segments and yellow lips.  The cultivar used here, 'BPYL,' stands for 'Black Petals Yellow Lip,' and the flowers have great color contrast on plants that bloom 3-4 times a year. The addition of tenebrosum with its early flowering habit and complementary flower colors should result in plants that bloom early, mid, and late season with very dark segments and bright yellow lips.
3” pots   

SVO 7313  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS x Ctsm. tigrinum 'SVO')

The tried and true Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) imparts good flower form, fimbriate lips and well-arranged flowers.  It's a vigorous grower that blooms reliably 3-4 times a season with 23-26 flowers per inflorescence. Early Ctsm. tigrinum crosses have shown that this species transmits wide petals, a desirable characteristic that creates full flower shape.  These will also be 'mini-Catasetums,' as the tigrinum parent will reduce plant size.  These will have high flower count, spotted flowers and frilly lips.  What more could you want? 
3” pots

SVO 7314  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. tigrinum 'SVO')

Flower quality in Portagee Star is surprisingly nice, with just three species in its background: pileatum, expansum and tenebrosum.  The shape is full, the lip is flat and the color is an attractive yellow with a bit of red.  I strongly believe that Ctsm. tigrinum will be a positive influence on the offspring. Earlier crosses have shown that tigrinum imparts the desirable characteristic of wide petals, creating a full flower shape.  These will also be 'mini-Catasetums,' as the tigrinum will reduce plant size.  I can hardly wait to see a lot of these new crosses bloom, but I'm particularly interested in this one.  SVO 7309 is very similar but was made with a different cultivar of tigrinum.
3” pots

SVO 7315  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. lucis 'Dana's Bird of Paradise' AM/AOS)

Flower quality in Portagee Star is surprisingly nice, with just three species in its background: pileatum, expansum and tenebrosum.  The shape is full, the lip is flat and the color is an attractive yellow with a bit of red.  What makes Ctsm. lucis remarkable is its upright 4' long inflorescence that carries many long-lived green flowers with white lips.  Earlier crosses in this style of breeding have been excellent.  We are expecting flower color to range between yellow with a red blush to pure white.  These will have high flower count, strong stems and flower longevity of 3-4 weeks, a nice trait passed on by lucis to its offspring. These will surprise you with their flower quality!
3” pot

SVO 7344  
Ctsm. saccatum (Ctsm. saccatum 'Dark Wonder' x Ctsm. saccatum 'Brooklyn Botanic Garden' FCC/AOS)

This is one of my favorite species, and I'm always happy when these plants flower 3-4 times a season, with inflorescences up to 3' long holding 25 or more well-arranged flowers!!!  A bit of history: a while back I made a sibling cross of saccatum ('SVO' x 'SVO II'), and the best plant from that cross was named 'Dark Wonder' for its very dark rich burgundy petals and sepals.  This pairing might very well produce the best group of saccatum seen; it sure has the genetic potential!
3” pots

SVO 7345  
Ctsm. New Hybrid (Ctsm. Orchidglade 'Davie Ranches' AM/AOS x Ctsm. tiginum 'SVO')

Orchidglade (pileatum x expansum) is a prolific bloomer with large yellow flowers, red spots and a huge lip.  As a bonus, it is an excellent breeder, reliably producing high-quality offspring. Ctsm. tigrinum blooms with 15-30 flowers that are white-cream with light red spots, produced several times a season on cascading inflorescences. Early hybrids with tigrinum have shown that offspring produce flowers with wide petals, a very desirable quality.  These will be 'mini-Catasetums,' as tigrinum will reduce plant stature due to its small growing habit.  These will have highly spotted flowers with excellent, full shape. I am really looking forward to these!
3” pots

 

 

** Some pictures are representative of the cross and not actual parents.

Catasetinae Divisions

 

 

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