This week’s Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Australian Made
Parentage: This week’s Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. Val Peck × Cym. eburneum
Registered: 2005
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
As a grower and breeder who focuses primarily on Cymbidium species and primary hybrids, I’ve always had a soft spot for plants with a strong species influence. Naturally, I was drawn to this one immediately!
I hadn’t encountered this particular cross until just a month ago, yet it quickly earned a high spot in my personal rankings. What excites me most is that it isn’t the typical modern tetraploid ‘flat dinner plate’ flower. Furthermore, the shade of yellow-green is very cool — something that my photo simply cannot capture. Up close, the flower’s vibrancy and subtle nuances are entrancing!
Bred by Kevin Hipkins of Royale Orchids in Australia, this plant exemplifies Kevin’s unique approach to hybridisation. Over the years, he produced some wonderfully unusual plants, leaving a lasting legacy that the Cymbidium community greatly misses. While I often wonder what he was aiming to achieve with this particular cross, I must admit that I absolutely love the result.
To top it off, the flower is quite fragrant, adding yet another layer of appeal.
In terms of flower form, the shape hasn’t strayed far from that of Cym. Val Peck. However, the colour appears more refined, and the labellum is cleaner, more shapely, and undeniably attractive in the progeny. Given the presence of Cym. suave and Cym. devonianum in the mix, it’s unsurprising that the flower spike isn’t upright. But at the same time, the influence of Cym. eburneum ensures the spike arches gracefully rather than cascading, and it blooms right around September, coinciding with Cym. eburneum’s flowering season.
Looking further back in its lineage, Cym. Fifi, a well-known grex, appears as a great-grandparent and has been used in over 75 registrations. Moreover, like many modern hybrids, traces of Cym. Alexanderi can be found in the background, adding depth to the genetic story.
Although no progeny from Cym. Australian Made have been registered yet, if I ever get the chance, I already have a few ideas for future crosses. By combining it with some older hybrids or even species plants, I hope to explore new possibilities and honour the remarkable legacy of this grex.
Tracing the plant’s heritage using Orchid Roots, its primary species ancestors are Cym. eburneum Cym. suave, and Cym. devonianum — three wonderful species that have defined the elegance and durability of today’s Cymbidiums.