This week’s Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Spotted Madam
Parentage: This weeks Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. Speckles × Cym. Dotz
Registered: 2014
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
This week’s Orchid of the Week is one for the spots and dots brigade. Certainly an acquired taste, and not for the old solid colour enthusiasts, but none the less, a flower that shouts, and even screams, ‘look at me’ very loudly!
Cym. Spotted Madam was bred by Casa de las Orquideas in Solana Beach, California who have their own breeding program and have produced some very nice plants over the years.
Both Cym. Spotted Madam’s parents have Cym. Arts as a grandparent, and we can also find Cym. Splatters as a grandparent. Cym. Splatters has produced many spotted progeny, including Cym. Valley Splatters, which I own. Cym. Splatters is getting on a bit now, but still very useful in breeding. Further back we also have Cym. Tethys as a heavy contributor, so it’s no surprise that the result here is lots of spots!
Two seedlings feature here, both grown by Sundaani Orchids in South Australia, clonal names ‘Kirra’ and ‘Kara’. Clones of both plants will be available in 2025, so please get in touch with Sundaani if you would like to obtain either, or both! However, I believe there won’t be a large number so you’ll have to get in quick.
My favourite is ‘Kirra’, due to the lip it shows, but they are both equally unique, that’s for sure!
Looking back at the original species ancestors of this plant, using Orchid Roots, Cym. insigne, Cym. lowianum and Cym. devonianum are the major contributors in the distant background.