Bulbophyllum Lovely Elizabeth 'Marble Branch' AM/CCM/AOS (4 Bulb Front Lead Blooming Size Division)

Bulbophyllum Lovely Elizabeth 'Marble Branch' AM/CCM/AOS is a truly extraordinary plant with qualities that make is exceptional in several ways. The plant is amazingly vigorous and will produce two, rather than one, growth from each lead annually. It will quickly make additional leads and grow into an impressive specimen over time. The flowers are well marked with good strong colors, and on a mature plant, are produced in umbels of up to fourteen individual flowers, each up to 10 inches long! No other example of this type of breeding has shown such a high flower count, and several AOS judges state that it is the best they have ever seen. And unlike its illustrious parent, Bulb. Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry' FCC/AOS, the flowers do not droop down but are held outward in fan-like fashion. The plant received a simultaneous 83 point Award of Merit and 87 point Certificate of Cultural Merit from the American Orchid Society in October of 2005. The photos show the plant in October of 2008 when, in bloom, it spanned nearly four feet! The inset photo shows the blooms from above so you can see how impressive each umbel is. We had held off making divisions for a couple years in order to try and elevate its cultural award to a CCE, but alas, the plant is now so large that we would have to rent a utility vehicle just to get it to a judging center! We will carefully select a 4 bulb front lead division from the plant when you order and ship it bare root, wrapped in spaghnum moss. Grow the plant in moderate to bright filtered light, and provide good humidity, regular (preferably daily) watering and feeding year round for best results. We recommend basket culture for this plant, in a moisture retentive, but well draining medium. Hurry, as quantities are very limited!