This week’s Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Waringah Claret
Parentage: This week’s Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. Jessie Blakiston × Cym. Kiata
Registered: 1993
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
This week’s Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is an oldie, for sure. It is also one that breeders seem to have passed by given there is no progeny. Probably as the lip seems just a touch too large and slightly too dominant for the flower.
Despite the fact I cannot seem to grow it well, I like Cym. Kiata and was one of the first plants I owned way back in the day. And given Cym. Kiata is a parent, I thought Cym. Waringah Claret was worth a mention.
Cym. Waringah Claret is not my first choice when it comes to intermediates, and I will admit the species Cym. floribundum grandparent is not one of my preferred species plants. However Cym. Warringa Claret was in flower when I was last at Wain’s Orchids in September this year (2025), and to be honest, it was the best flowering I’d ever seen from this plant. It had 14-16 intermediate sized flowers on each of the 2 upright spikes and a lovely rich colour too.
Whilst it may not appeal to some, it is a wonderful colour and has interesting lip markings and for the hobbyist grower, is a reliable flowerer.
Tracing the plant’s heritage using Orchid Roots, its primary species ancestors are Cym. insigne, Cym. floribundum and Cym. i’ansonii — the latter two not being as predominantly used in Cym. breeding as Cym. insigne.