This week’s Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Khan Flame ‘Tuscany’
Parentage: This weeks Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. Cronulla × Cym. Yowie Flame
Registered: 1995
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
This week’s Orchid of the Week is a very successful red/brown Cymbidium Orchid from Bryants Orchids. It’s an oldie now, but has been a fixture in most Australian hobbyists shade houses for a long time, and is still seen on the show bench today, most recently above at the Cymbidium Orchid Club of South Australia in 2024.
Bryant’s Orchids have without a doubt been a very successful breeder in Australia for a long time and Cym. Khan Flame has been a cracker. With colours ranging from pink to brown it has also been a great parent, with 96 current registered progeny showing its popularity with breeders. Some of our previous Orchid of the Week articles have featured some of these progeny, including Cym. Satin Dragon.
One of the parents, Cym. Yowie Flame is a product of Cym. Tapestry and Cym. Sensation, so a double dose of Cym. Tapestry in the background. Cym. Yowie Flame has been a really significant red parent, and now has over 120 progeny around the world. If you look at the good reds in Australia today, you’ll find Cym. Yowie Flame in the family tree, almost for certain! Cym. Sensation is also responsible for a huge number of modern reds and is present in the background of so many lovely plants, and again here!
Looking back at the original species ancestors of this plant, using Orchid Roots, Cym. insigne, Cym. lowianum, Cym. hookerianum and Cym. eburneum are the major contributors present in the distant background.