Top 20 Orchid Hybrids and Why
A Hybrid is defined
as the progeny of two plants or animals of diverse races, varieties,
species, or genera. The uniqueness in the reproductive method
of orchids is such that, with a small number of exceptions, the
genera do not combine easily, therefore the basic features remain
exclusively pure. Members of alike orchid genus when cross-pollinated
under natural conditions, the resultant hybrids are superior to
either of the parents. Principal motive of growers in the production
of hybrids being the increase in collection, increase the size
and number of flowers, get better color combination of flowers
and to strengthen the growth process and resistance of the plants.
- Cattleya hardyana results from
the cross among Cattleya dowiana and Cattleya gigas, with
rounded mauve colored flower of gigas, with a touch of the
dowiana, i.e. yellow with dark red lip.
- Another example
of bi-generic orchid hybrid is the Epiphronitis veitchii,
outcome of the cross between Epidendrum radicans and Sophronitis
coccinea, born in 1980 and awarded the First Class Certificate
from the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Three genera
when crossed, result in tri-generic hybrids like the most
admired and well-known hybrid with a great deal of commercial
value, the Brassolaelio cattleya, combining the crunchy
feel of the narrow-petal Laelia with the rounded Cattleya
and adding up the full, showy lip characteristic of Brassavola.
- Some orchid
hybrids are the result of cross among four genres one of them
being the Potinara, which is the hybrid of Brassavola,
Laelia, Cattleya, and the brilliantly colored Sophronitis.
- Calanthe
dominyi is the first orchid hybrid produced in greenhouse
conditions, it is a combination of Calanthe masuca and Calanthe
furcata, developed in 1853.
- Burragera Living
Fire is an intergeneric
Oncidium hybrid that is easy to grow and bloom. The flower
spikes emerge from the base of the pseudobulb and produce
5 to 15 flowers per spike. The flowers are colored pure red
with a yellow center.
- Burrageara
Stefan Isler is a cross of Vuylstekeara edna and Oncidium
leucochilum. The flowers are of a deep red color with a yellow
lip. The spikes have numerous flowers and they often have
branches.
- Cattleytonia
is an intergeneric hybrid between Cattleya aurantiaca and
Broughtonia sanguinea. Stewart’s Orchids created the first
plants in 1979. The flowers are produced in clusters of 7
- 15 flowers on spikes that average 10 - 12" in length.
The flower color is bright red with a little yellow splash
at the throat.
- Colmanara
Wildcat is an intergeneric hybrid consisting of miltonia,
odontoglosum, and oncidium. There are two basic varieties,
those that have a yellow background covered with large distinct
mahogany red markings, and a variety called ‘Bobcat’, which
has solid deep burgundy flowers with a heavy lacquered appearance.
- Paphiopedilum
Joyce Hasagawa is a parvisepalum cross between Paph. emersonii
and delenatii. These plants have beautiful mottled foliage,
with thin blue green markings over a light green background.
The flowers are colored in light pastel porcelain pink with
a somewhat darker pouch and a dark reddish staminade having
a yellow center. These flowers are wonderfully fragrant and
smell like roses.
- Doritaenopsis
Kenneth Schubert is a cross between Doritis pulcherrima
and Phalaenopsis violacea, and has a unique lavender/blue
color, which is quite rare in the Phalaenopsis/Doritaenopsis
family.
- Oncidia Charlesworthii is a clone
of a hybrid originally made in 1910, and is a cross between
Cochlioda noezliana and Oncidium incurvum. This plant produces
branching sprays of bright red orange flowers with a lighter
peach colored lip. They have a nice fragrance.
- Epicattleya
Rene Marques is a cross of Epi. pseudepidendrum and Cattleya
claesiana. This is a great clone of an awarded hybrid that
is easy to grow and bloom. The plants produces flowers with
green petals with a pink throat extending out to a burst of
yellow that really make this flower stand out.
- Odontoglossum
Rawdon Jester is a hybrid between Odontoglossum grande
Dallas and Williamsianum. Grande 'Dallas' is the largest and
one of the finest Rossioglossum grandes. When crossed with
the Williamsianum, it produces very large flowers with more
blooms per spike than Grande. This plant is easy to grow and
typically blooms in the fall with stunning 6 to 8 inch flowers.
- Odontocidium
Tiger Crow also called “Golden Girl” is an intergeneric
hybrid consisting of Odontoglossum and Oncidium. It grows
in a wide range of temperature zones from warm to cool. The
flower spikes usually emerge twice a year and are colored
in yellow and burgundy.
- Odontocidium
Margaret Holm ‘Alpine’ is
a clone of Odm. bictoniense and Odm. Hans Koch, which is a
very good quality, high-flower count orchid. It is easy to
grow and is tolerant to climatic variations. This plant blooms
in the summer and mostly twice in a year. The flowers are
about 2 to 2 ½ inches in length, white with purple/mahogany
spots. The bloom generally last from 1 to 3 months.
- Oncidium
Twinkle also called “Fragrance Fantasy” is a cross between
Oncidium cheirophorum and Oncidium ornithorhynchum. Being
an ornithorhynchum hybrid, the plant stays compact; the flowers
are profuse and very fragrant, smelling of vanilla and spice.
This is an easy growing plant that will do well in most conditions.
- Opsistylis
Mem. Mary Natrass is a hybrid between two species Vandopsis
gigantea and Rhyncostylis gigantean, which are from Thailand.
This particular hybrid utilizes the Sagarik strain of Rhyncostylis
gigantea, which has solid deep burgundy red flowers. This
plant is easy to grow and can flower under diverse conditions
as those required for cattleya or vanda. The flowers are very
thick, long lasting, and have a nice fragrance.
- Paphiopedilum
Amarantine is a cross between liemianum and moquettianum.
The plant blooms successively for up to 2 years on a single
flower spike. This hybrid is a very vigorous, floriferous
plant. The large 3-inch flowers are colored in pinkish purple,
yellow and green. This is an easy plant to grow and does well
in low light.
- Paphiopedilum
Armeni White is a hybrid between armeniacum and delenatii.
It is an easy growing hybrid, which blooms on rather smallish
plants with about a 5”- 6” leafspan. The spikes are about
10” tall. Flowers are clear porcelain white with a little
yellow in the center on the staminode.
Sign up for our new HTML Orchid care
Newsletter
You'll get updates we post to our Orchid Care Blog about this
Website and highlights blog as well. Enter your email address in the
box below, click the subscribe me button, and you're almost
done!
|
