Hybrid seedling plant in a 75mm pot. Near flowering size.

Some of my favourite cattleyas are the bifoliates, and I’ve acquired many choice plants as parental stock.  Over the past few years I’ve seen little breeding along these lines, so, since they’re some of my favourites, I made a few crosses to share with all you Cattleya lovers!  Summerland Girl (C. leopoldii x Lc. Grandee) is a very special plant. One of its parents, Lc. Grandee (Lc. Mrs. Medo x C. Aeneas), is a prominent parent in the history of Cattleya breeding from the 1950's and 60's. This influential hybrid is made up of three species: C. dowiana 75%, L. tenebrosa 12.5%, and C. bicolor 12.5%. Summerland Girl blooms with an astonishing 21 large, waxy, bright red flowers with contrasting purple-red lips. The plant is 2' tall and, when in bloom, the inflorescence adds an extra foot - really spectacular! Chinese Bronze (C. bicolor x Blc. Chinese Jade) has very flat, rounded, and wide bronze petals and a bright lip reminiscent of the bicolor parent. I have a very good feeling about this cross! Plants will be 18-20” tall and produce strong upright stems carrying 10 or more large, flat flowers in glossy, deep bronze to burgundy with bright red lips. This is a very impressive cross that blooms in the heat of summer.

Imported Seedling from Sunset Valley Orchids, USA. Picture shows the parent of this cross. The above description was written by Fred Clarke and details the expectation of this hybrid. For information on growing Cattleyas check out our growing page at http://barritaorchids.com/pages/growers-resource-page