Cattlianthe Ernest Renan x Jackfowlieara Appleblossom 'Lemon Pie' AM/AOS (3.5" pot near blooming size)

Photo shows first to bloom. This will be a great near mini hybrid for a new generation of compact bright yellow clusters on good strong and upright spikes. Cattlianthe Ernest Renan is Cattleya (formerly Laelia) briegeri x Guarianthe (formerly Cattleya) aurantiaca and makes a strongly upright and compact later summer to late fall bloomer with occasional additional spikes in winter. It was on one of these out of season bloomings that is was paired with Jackfowlieara (formerly Iwanagaara) Appleblossom ‘Lemon Pie’ AM/AOS, one of the rare bright yellow forms of that cross. The plants are showing great compact form with plump, short pseudobulbs and small stiff pairs of leaves, and may offer up the first blooms as soon as the winter season of 2010-2011. The bloom seasons of the ancestors in the cross open the possibility of flowers more than once per year, though this is not guaranteed by any means. When they come, however, they will be charming and quite long lasting. A few may show red flares on the petals and/or some red shading in the lip, and flowers should face all directions on nice strong spikes held beautifully above the foliage.