This week’s Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Rancho Dos Pueblos ‘Andijk’
Parentage: This week’s Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. parishii x Cym. Piñata
Registered: 2016
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
The Cymbidium world runs so wonderfully deep and diverse that there will always be plants that have been around for ages without ever crossing your radar. And this year, I encountered exactly one of those!
As a lover of Cym. parishii influenced plants, I find Cym. Rancho Dos Pueblos ‘Andijk’ utterly compelling, and consequently, it has shot straight to the top of my “must acquire” list. The deep richness of the labellum offsets the white petals and sepals beautifully, and on top of that, the spots add the proverbial cream on top of the cake — truly the finishing touch that elevates the whole flower.
Digging into the lineage, Cym. Piñata carries both Cym. Tethys and Cym. Khyber Pass in the background, and it’s precisely this ancestry that accounts for the delightful spotting throughout the flower. Meanwhile, the upright spike and well-proportioned standard sized flowers ensure this plant commands attention in any collection. Importantly, while other cultivars exist from this cross, this particular one stands head and shoulders above the rest for me — largely because of its more pointed petals and sepals, which I strongly prefer over the currently fashionable rounded shapes.
Finally, if anyone out there grows this cultivar and might consider parting with a division, I would absolutely love to hear from you!
The above image was taken from a post on The Mathers Foundation Facebook page.
Tracing the plant’s heritage, as registered, using Orchid Roots, its primary species ancestors are Cym. parishii, Cym. insigne and Cym. lowianum.