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Plant Offerings
Sunset Valley Orchids 2014 Catasetinae Plant Offering
Never before has there been such a comprehensive list of Catasetinae species and hybrids offered for sale. It has taken many years to collect, select, and develop these breeding lines. The quality of the breeding stock is without compare, and these plants will set the new standard for flower quality, vigor, and your enjoyment. The focus this year has been in 5 areas: Cycnoches, Mini-Catasetums, Species, Mormodias, and Fredclarkearas.
There will be two releases of the new Catasetinae hybrids, this being the first and the second to follow in approximately 4-5 weeks.
Over the last few years we have been working on the development of advanced breeding lines for Cycnoches. I just love the elegant swan-shaped blooms; they truly are the most breathtaking flowers of the genus. They are also a bit more challenging to grow. We have been selecting Cycnoches for our breeding program using several criteria, like plant vigor, flower quality, color, and resistance to the occasional back bulb die off. Our Cycnoches species and hybrids will demonstrate these qualities, and the more complex Cycnoches crosses have been through this selection process for 2 or 3 generations, resulting in significant improvement in ease of culture and better resistance to back bulb die-off.
This year we have re-introduced some of the successful “mini-Catasetum” crosses and introduced several very promising new ones. This is a new plant form that has started to gain considerable attention from collectors. These new hybrids are compact growers and flower 2-4 times a year! How can you go wrong with that?
There also have been lots of requests for species. When breeding species, it’s important to use the best parental stock possible to accentuate good qualities and improve plant vigor. This list reflects the “best of type” in the species offered. There are some fantastic things here, so please take your time in making decisions, or just get them all.
Mormodia are hybrids between Mormodes and Clowesia, and they are the stepping stones toward the genus Fredclarkeara. Mormodias are a great pairing: they produce lots of charming flowers in many different colors, on pendulous inflorescences late in the season, and they are small growing plants. What is not to like about that?
There are several new developments in Fredclarkeara hybrids this year. The focus has been on developing different color forms. How about green, yellow, spotted and possibly another ‘Black’ flowered grex? As with other Fredclarkeara hybrids, flower life will exceed over 4 weeks, and the flowers will have excellent shape and color. There is significant award potential: a plant of Fdk. After Midnight (Fdk. After Dark x Ctsm. John C. Burchett) was awarded an FCC/AOS last fall. These new Fredclarkearas should not be overlooked.
Good growing, Fred Clarke
Summer 2014 Catasetinae Listing
SVO 2033 This is a remake of the landmark hybrid that has received accolades from hobbyists around the world. After Dark is known for producing the blackest orchid flowers seen. So far, it has earned an astounding 33 AOS awards, including 8 FCC's. The expectation is for about 50% of the plants to produce flowers in black shades and the remainder in deep reds and spotted colors. After Dark also produces some of the longest-lived Catasetinae flowers, with blooms lasting an average of 5-7 weeks. This may be the last time this grex is offered. Pictures of first bloom seedlings 1, 2, 3, 4 |
SVO 5001 If you missed out on these the first time, this is your second chance to get a really very special cross. The Melana Davision have produced a variety of eye-catching flower colors, from solid deep burgundy, to white blotched burgundy and white with fine red spotting. This is a new “mini-Catasetum” with mature plants only 5” tall thanks to the influence of Ctsm. denticulatum. Expect 15-20 flowers, 2-3 times per season. Limited supply. Pictures from the first batch 1, 2, 3 |
SVO 5240 This is a first for Ctsm. Lovena, instead of using the typical color form of Ctsm. fimbriatum which is yellow with red spots we have selected the v. morrenianum form for its unusual dark burgundy color. In breeding with Ctsm. fimbriatum I have found the frilly lip and color will be dominant. The Ctsm. Susan Fuchs (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. expansum) is a well know and excellent breeder, it imparts flower size and a large full lip. These will produce dark burgundy flowers with yellow and frilly lips blooming 2 or 3 times a season. |
SVO 5241 I have been interested in frills and fangs on the lips on Catasetum flowers for some time now. Ctsm. fimbriatum has a coarse fimbriate lip and Ctsm. Dragon's Teeth (Ctsm. fimbriatum x Ctsm. saccatum) has two prominent fangs. These will be dark burgundy flowers with a darker spots or blotches on the segments. All will have frills and fangs on the lips, very dramatic. Mature plants will produce 2-3 long inflorescences carrying 20 or more flowers during the bloom season. |
SVO 5243 Ctsm. Crownfox Voodoo (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs x Ctsm. tenebrosum) has the genes to really develop dark
burgundy flower color in its progeny. The flowers look 'bird like' with their dark burgundy segments and
contrasting green lip. Due to the influence of Ctsm. tenebrosum it flowers early spring and then again
mid season. The Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale 'SVO Blood Red' is a solid red flower it blooms 3 times a
year and carries 9-14 flowers each blooming. The expectation is for deeply colored dark red to
burgundy flowers of substantial size with large flat lips. A classic style of breeding. Blooming Size |
SVO 5251 Thanks to my friend Jamie Lawson of Micco, Fl. who gave me a bulb of his plant Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise'. This plant has turned out to be an excellent breeder. It is parents are (Ctsm. pileatum x Ctsm. Black Night), the flowers have excellent shape a flat lip and a pleasing soft yellow color with a blush of burgundy. The flowers of Ctsm. Susan Fuchs 'Burgundy Chips' are large with flowers that are bright yellow and red spotting. It have sired many outstanding offspring and this paring will be no exception. Expect big flat flowers in shaded of yellow to red with bold red spotting. Mature plants will bloom 2-3 times a year and will be real show stoppers. Blooming Size |
SVO 5274 I have been waiting for years to make this cross as something seemed to always happen, but here it is. These are my two best Ctsm. Frilly Doris mated together. Ctsm. Frilly Doris is (Ctsm. Doris Choice x Ctsm. Donna Marie) they both carry 22-26 flowers per inflorescence with light green with burgundy spotted flowers and a coarsely frilled lip, a bit like B. digbyana. Sib crossing will bring out the variability of the cross and make available one of my best hybrids to you Catasetinae lovers. Blooming Size |
SVO 5288 Here is a cross I am really excited about. Ctsm. Jose Abalo 'SVO' (Ctsm. sanguineum x Ctsm. Orchidglade) is just simply an outstanding plant and flower. The inflorescence is 24” long it's straight up,
carrying 15-18 flowers. But wait, there is more, the flowers are dark burgundy (almost black) the lips
are hard as rocks… you need to see it in person to fully appreciate. Paring this with the unusual and dark
burgundy color form Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum will really bring out some amazing flowers.
Strong upright stems carrying 15 plus flowers in deep burgundy (almost black) flowers with lips that are
heavy and frilled. A very novel hybrid with exceptional potential. |
SVO 5316 In hopes of a new color form for Fredclarkearas, this grex was created to produce pure green flowers, with a few having some red spotting. ‘Morning After’ is the only After Dark to produce green flowers, ‘Green Apple’ is the finest Orchidglade I have seen, with an exceptionally large, flat light green lip. The off spring will produce 15-20 flowers per stem in full rounded shapes and with large lips. Flower life will be in excess of 4 weeks. This is a very promising hybrid with considerable opportunities for AOS awards. |
SVO 5325 When a Mormodes and a Cycnoches are crossed together a hybrid genus named Cycnodes (Cycd.) is created. Several amazing things happen with this pairing: the flowers have incredible color and shape, and the offspring grow really well. Several years ago two plants from SVO's Cycnodes crosses received First Class Certificates (FCC's), with one named the “best FCC of the year” by the American Orchid Society! Morm. colossus has a huge flower with outrageous color and is very floriferous. The Cyc. warscewiczii has a large swan-shaped flower that is deep green with a white lip, one of the best in the collection. The Mormodes will be dominant for color and the Cycnoches will be dominant for flower shape. So what should you expect? These will flower with two inflorescences carrying 12-15 flowers each in colors of bronze to ginger snap. I am also expecting larger than-normal flower size. The combination of Cycnoches and Mormodes is a match made in heaven, with the best qualities of both species shining through. I was also able to make the reciprocal crosses of this SVO 5627. Reciprocal crosses in Cycnodes breeding are very unusual, as both plants need to have female and male flowers present. This may be the first time one has ever been offered for sale. This is the only Cycnodes offered this year. Very Limited |
SVO 5550 This cross represents 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. 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. Swan Cascade (Cyc. Jean E. Monnier x Cyc. cooperi) has also produced excellent offspring, with 'Best Select' having particularly long inflorescences carrying 25-27 flowers. The expectation here is for bronze flowers with darker burgundy spots, shield-shaped lips, and long inflorescences carrying 20 or more flowers. You can't go wrong with this one. |
SVO 5552 It is quite unusual to see expansum offered for sale, I'm not sure why this is true, but expansum may be over-shadowed by its cousin, Ctsm. pileatum. However, expansum is magnificent in its own right with, large, boldly-spotted flowers and big, broad, flat lips, very impressive! The two cultivars used to create this cross may very well result in the best pairing of expansum ever made. If you collect Catasetum species, this is a 'must have,' and, if you're not a species nut, you still have to have one. Very limited |
SVO 5588 Large shield-shaped lips in Cycnoches really make for beautiful flowers. The hybrid of Richard Brandon (Cyc. warscewiczii x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier) has the large lip influenced by warscewiczii. Crossing it back to warscewiczii will further assure large shield-shaped lips and improve flower size and substance. Expect the flowers in bronze colors with some darker spotting. Based on my experience, this very well may be the best Cycnoches cross to date. I am really looking forward to seeing them flower. Limited |
SVO 5608 Rose pink Catasetums are challenging to develop and rarely available as a result. Clo. Abigail Parsons (Cl. Grace Dunn x Ctsm. John C. Burchett) is getting pretty close. The influence of Clowesia Grace Dunn (Cl. rosea x Cl. warczewitzii) with its pink and green flowers is quite strong in this breeding line. The Ctsm. denticulatum 'SVO' has a darker flower color with some shades of rose pink; I believe it will help to produce progeny that will bloom in the rose pink tones. The plant stature will be reduced to 6” tall, and the plants will flower early in the season, again in mid-season and finally late in the season when they are deciduous. An added benefit of this cross is that when Clowesia and Catasetums are combined, the flowers become 'perfect' and bloom longevity is extended to 3 weeks or more. Limited |
SVO 5628 ‘Wide
Petals’ is superior to all others in flower size, count, shape and
flowering habit. I don’t believe there is a better warscewiczii out
there -- check out the picture. Kevin Clarke (Cyc. herrenhusanum x Cyc.
warscewiczii) is truly special. It is named for my younger son and is
the first Cycnoches hybrid from SVO to receive a coveted First Class
Certificate (FCC) from the American Orchid Society. The swan-shaped
flowers of Kevin Clarke are bright yellow with light gold spots -- an
amazing color -- not to mention the 2 inflorescences carrying 30
perfectly arranged blooms. Cyc. Kevin Clarke already has improved lip
size and form. The second addition of warscewiczii genes from ‘Wide
Petals’ will result in a significant contribution to the overall size,
shape, form and lip qualities of this grex. It is hard to improve on an
FCC but this has the potential to do just that, if you only get one
Cycnoches hybrid. This is the one.
3” pots |
SVO 5646 Building on the successes of earlier crosses like Ctsm. Karen Armstrong and Ctsm. Melana Davision this is the next logical step in breeding “mini-Catasetums”. Louise Clarke (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs x Ctsm. Donna Wise) is named for my mother and is a spectacular grex. 'Wonder Woman' has superb flower quality, high flower count, huge lips and it blooms 5-6 times a year. Yes, that's right 5-6 times a year! The denticulatum has proven itself to be a good breeding plant that passes along color, flower shape and diminutive plant size. This is the newest of the “mini-Catasetums”. I believe we are really onto something with this cross. I expect bold colors and high flower count with a very free flowering habit, all on a diminutive plant. I have set aside 24 of these for myself but still have plenty to sell. Very Limited |
SVO 5689 Painted Desert (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Morm. sinuata) is the parent of the world famous Fdk. After Dark. The influence in breeding with Mormodia (Mo.) is well known: it adds flower color, multiple pendulous inflorescences and flower longevity to its offspring. Ctsm. expansum named for its large 'expanded' lip and should influence the cross with this feature. Expect well rounded flowers produced 20 + per stem. Color will be interesting as it is a combination of red and green, these could be impressive. |
SVO 5691 Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' is one of the top performers in my breeding stock it has great flower size, count, shape and flowering habit. 'Jumbo Mutation' was selected from a flowering group of clones, it really stood out and an exceptional flower clearly a meristem shift (mutation) for the better. These will have exceptional flower quality and vigor for this highly desirable species. |
** Some pictures are representative of the cross and not actual parents.
