Sunset Valley Orchids
Fred Clarke
1255 Navel Place
Vista, CA 92081

fred.clarke@att.net

Clo. Jumbo York (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Sun Rise’ JC/AOS)

Clowesetum (Clo.) hybrids are made up of a Clowesia x Catasetum.  They have several important traits like: improved flower life, multiple spiking habit, good form, and fragrance. This grex will have light yellow flowers with possibly a bit of orange in them.  They will bloom twice a year once in leaf and then again on leafless bulbs.  Nice showy flowers in light yellow to pink, 2-3 spikes per bulb with 13 or more flowers each, on these blooming size plants.

Clo. Pierre Couret (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’)

Here we are breeding for long lived dark pink to rose colored Clowesetum flowers.  The Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale has amazing dark red color. The Cl. Rebecca Northen (Cl. Grace Dunn x Cl. rosea) will assure multiple spiking habit, frilled lips and improved flower life. I do expect colors to range from soft yellow to dark rose with the most desirable being the dark rose ones!   Surprisingly large flower size on the ones I saw in bloom, nice deep rose pink color and frilled lips, these are blooming size plants.

Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Black Pearl’ FCC/AOS (Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS)

‘SVO Black Pearl’ is the best of the ‘black flowered’ types, when mature it produces 2-4 pendant inflorescences per bulb, carrying 15-25 flowers each.  It is one of the best growers and bloomers of the grex, flowers last 6-7 weeks.  These clones and are mature blooming size plants to flower this year.

Fdk. After Dark ‘Sunset Valley Orchids’ FCC/AOS (Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS)

‘Sunset Valley Orchids’ FCC/AOS is the best of the ‘spotted flowered’ types, it produces 2-3 pendant inflorescences per bulb, carrying 13-20 flowers that last 6 or more weeks. It is an excellent grower and the spotted flowers are amazingly beautiful.  These clones are mature blooming size plants to flower this year.

Cyc. cooperi (Cyc. cooperi ‘SVO III’ FCC/AOS x Cyc. cooperi ‘Mem. Pat Worthington’ AM/AOS)

Here is the best of the best.  Cyc. cooperi ‘SVOIII’ FCC/AOS is the best cooperi ever seen; here we have crossed it to the dark flowered ‘Mem. Pat Worthington’ AM/AOS with its extra wide petals of the darkest chocolate color.  Expect the dark chocolate color to dominate with improved shape and size, these are the next level in high quality Cyc. cooperi. 

Fdk. After Dark  (Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Susan’ AM/AOS)

The original cross produced an impressive 8 FCC, 4 AM, 3 CCE/AOS and an Award of Distinction.  This remake has produced 50% of the flowers in shades of black.  This will be the last offering of seedling Fdk. After Dark.   Orchid breeding history has been made with this cross, now is your chance to get your own individual plant.  What else needs to be said? 

Ctsm. Karen Armstrong (Ctsm. Susan Fuchs ‘Burgundy Chips’ FCC/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO’ AM/AOS)

Ctsm. Susan Fuchs is (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. expansum) 'Burgundy Chips' has large flowers, great color and 15 plus flowers per stem. The denticulatum has a nice yellow lip with stems caring 25 flowers and it is a small growing plant. Here we are breeding in a new direction for reduced plant size while keeping the good flower color and high flower count.  This new direction in breeding for small growing plants has been spectacular and not to be missed.

Ctsm. denticulatum (Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO II’ AM/AOS )

These are quite rare in cultivation and only discovered about 15 years ago. ‘SVO’ has a red lip and ‘SVO II’ has a yellow lip both carry 20-30 flowers with excellent color, form, and arrangement.  These are small growers with mature plants standing 4-5” tall. They also flower in the spring and again in the fall.  These are very nice and a very limited supply.

Ctsm. Chuck Taylor  (Ctsm. Portagee Star ‘Jamie Lawson’s Sunrise’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO II’ AM/AOS)

Ctsm. Portagee Star (Ctsm. expansum x Ctsm. Black Knight) interestingly this grex has the 3 same parental species as the famous Ctsm. Donna Wise, pileatum, expansum, and tenebrosum. 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' carries up to 15 flowers in shades of yellow and burgundy, and is very attractive. The denticulatum has a nice yellow lip, 25 flowers and is a small growing plant. Here we are breeding in a new direction for reduced plant size while keeping good flower color and high flower count.  This direction in breeding for small growing plants has been spectacular.   Limited supply.

Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’ x Ctsm. John C. Burchett ‘Ursa Major’ FCC/AOS

I like big red lips on my Catasetums and what we are after here is just that.  This Ctsm. pileatum has the best red color out of many I have seen bloom.  The Ctsm. John C. Burchett is a pileatum/expansum based hybrid with the award indicating its quality.  These will be like a large flat red pileatum.  Very collectable, very nice and very limited.

Cyc. Swan Cascade (Cyc. cooperi ‘Mem. Pat Worthington’ AM/AOS x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier ‘Phantom Spots’ AM/AOS)

‘Mem. Pat. Worthington’ has superbly shaped flowers in a rich dark chocolate color; it’s my favorite cultivar of cooperi.  The ‘Phantom Spots’ received an AM/AOS for Debora Longworth at the MAOC show in Mason, Ohio. It was one of the most dramatic and beautiful Cyc. Jean E. Monnier I have seen, if a few flowers weren’t damaged I think an FCC/AOS would have been given to it.   This cross is designed to develop form and color of the flowers.  This advanced breeding will be very showy with flowers like spotted bronze swans!

Cyc. Robert Dickow  (Cyc. Robert Dickow ‘SVO’ X Cyc. Robert Dickow ‘SVOII’)

Cyc. Robert Dickow is (Cyc. warscewiczii x Cyc. haagii) It has been a very successful hybrid with 3 AM/AOS awards given, so far.  These plants have the flower size of the C. warscewiczii and the red spots from the haagii, a great paring.  Strong growers and floriferous.

Ctsm. Bella Vista’s Sangria ‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morrenianum ‘SVO’

‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ has an outstanding dark purple color not often seen in Catasetum the fimbriatum v. morrenianum is a solid dark burgundy flower with a fimbriate lip.  I have wanted to make this cross for 3 years but I was unable to get female flowers, I finally got them!   These are going to be dark burgundy-purple flowers with big frilly lips, a very cool combination.

Cyc. cooperi ‘Mem. Pat Worthington’ AM/AOSx Cyc. Swan Cascade ‘SVO Best’

‘Mem. Pat. Worthington’ has superbly shaped flowers in a rich dark chocolate color with over 35 flowers per stem; it’s my favorite cultivar of cooperi.  Cyc. Swan Cascade (Cyc. cooperi x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier) have been really nice with ‘SVO Best’  being the best I have with great substance, form and color.  This grex will have 3 doses of Cyc. cooperi and one dose of Cyc. barthiorum.  The flowers will resemble a large Cyc. cooperi with wider petals and spotted segments.  Line breeding at its finest.  Limited supply.

Cl. rosea (Cl. rosea ‘Pink’ x Cl. rosea ‘SVO’)

These are hard to find and not many are available for this listing.  Very collectable, cute pinks with fuzzy lips to bloom on dormant, leafless bulbs.

Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt ‘Ed Wise’)

This type of breeding makes the hybrid genus Fredclarkeara, where flowers last 6 weeks or more.  Ctsm. Mark Dimmit (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. Orchidglade) has a solid deep burgundy red flower color and full Ctsm. pileatum shaped lip. Expect dark flowers with many being in shades of black.  These will also have improved lip shape and size.  Landmark breeding here, this is the cutting edge.   

Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Frilly Doris ‘SVO Yellowest’

This type of breeding makes the hybrid genus Fredclarkeara, where flowers last 6 weeks or more.  Ctsm. Frilly Doris is a favorite breeder, it had a coarse frilly lip, excellent arrangement and mature plants regularly bloom 3 times a year.  Expect flowers to range in color from light rose to deep red will all having the frilly lip.

Clo. Jumbo York (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Sun Rise’ JC/AOS)

Clowesetum (Clo.) hybrids are made up of a Clowesia x Catasetum.  They have several important traits like: improved flower life, multiple spiking habit, good form, and fragrance. This grex will have light yellow flowers with possibly a bit of orange in them.  They will bloom twice a year once in leaf and then again on leafless bulbs. 

Clo. Pierre Couret (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’)

Here we are breeding for long lived dark pink to rose colored Clowesetum flowers.  The Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale has amazing dark red color. The Cl. Rebecca Northen (Cl. Grace Dunn x Cl. rosea) will assure multiple spiking habit, frilled lips and improved flower life. I do expect colors to range from soft yellow to dark rose with the most desirable being the dark rose ones!  

Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’x Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt ‘Ed Wise’

Here we are looking for long lived pink to red Clowesetum flowers.  The Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. Orchidglade) will double up the genes of the large flowered Ctsm. pileatum & Ctsm. expansum and add the dark color of Ctsm. tenebrosum to the mix.  The first to flower have been pink with darker pink spotting.

Cl. Rebecca Northen (Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Hill Top’)

Rebecca Northen (Cl. Grace Dunn x Cl. rosea) is a famous hybrid due to its name sake and great flowers.  The small plants bloom after the leaves have dropped on pendulous inflorescences; the flowers are light pink with fimbriate lips and are quite fragrant.  Limited supply

Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO’ AM/AOSx Ctsm. Penang ‘Sweet Heart’

Ctsm. denticulatum has been proving it’s self and an excellent breeder particularly for reducing plant size and bringing out beautifully colored flower markings.  This is a very promising new cross; expect dark red flowers with yellow marking on the lips.  These are a new direction in breeding for small growing plants, they have been spectacular and not to be missed.

Ctsm. Bella Vista’s Sangria ‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ HCC/AOS x Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO’ AM/AOS )

Ctsm. denticulatum has been proving it’s self and an excellent breeder.  ‘Jamie’s Purple Passion’ has an outstanding dark purple color not often seen in Catasetum.  I expect dark purple to red flowers with beautiful yellow lip markings with the denticulatum reducing the plant size. These are a new direction in breeding for small growing plants and are not to be missed.

Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale ‘SVO Blood Red’ x Ctsm. Brent’s Black Hawk ‘SVO’

This breeding is directed towards dark burgundy- red flowers.  The pileatum is the best solid red I have seen. The Ctsm. Brent’s Black Hawk (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. tenebrosum) had a dark chocolate brown flower with a chartreuse lip.   I am expecting twice a year flowering from this grex with dark burgundy- red flowers.

Mo. Leopard Drops ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Amber’ AM/AOS

Mormodia (Mo.) is the hybrid genera between a Mormodes and Clowesia.  They have excellent breeding qualities that are passed along to their progeny, this is why the grex Fdk. After Dark is so good.   This is the first hybrid using the new Mormodia on to a Catasetum making the genus Fredclarkeara (Fdk.).    Leopard Drops (Cl. Rebecca Northen x Morm. lawrenceana) has a great red color with bars and stripes on the flowers.  Multiple spikes are produced per bulb with 25 or more flowers per stem.  The Donna Wise (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. tenebrosum) has bred many fine hybrids as it gives good flowers shape, two blooming periods a year and is a vigorous grower.  I am expecting flower life to be 4-6 weeks, pendulous inflorescences caring 15-25 flowers in deep red shades; some will have stripes, bars and spots.

Morm. Virgen del Valle ‘Dark Horse’ x Cyc. warscewiczii ‘SVO Widest Petals’

Cycnodes (Cycd.) hybrids are the combination of a Cycnoches and a Mormodes.  This hybrid will get the best qualities of both parents, the Mormodes (Morm. sinuata x Morm. hookeri) is dominant for its burgundy color and the Cycnoches warscewiczii is dominant for size and flat form.  Cycnodes hybrids are a proven winning combination and this will be no exception.  These will have large, flat, red to bronze flowers with contrasting red lips.    Very showy flowers

Morm. Jumbo Bacia ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Morm. Virgen del Valle ‘Red & Burgundy’

Here is an advanced Mormodes hybrid, these are much easier to grow that their species counter parts.  Jumbo Bacia (Morm. badia x Morm. uncia) produces up to 37 flowers per inflorescence in a dark burgundy-red color.  Virgen del Valle (Morm. sinuata x Morm. hookeri) produces up to 25 flowers per inflorescence in a dark burgundy color with a fuzzy near black lip.  Very cool looking Mormodes flowers in dark burgundy on easier to grow plants.  Well worth a try.

Cycd. Jumbo Revolution (Cyc. warscewiczii ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Morm. revoluta ‘SVO Yellow’) 

Cycnodes (Cycd.) hybrids are the combination of a Cycnoches and a Mormodes.  This primary hybrid will get the best qualities from both parents, the Mormodes will be dominant for its bright yellow color and the Cycnoches is dominant for large, flat flower form.  Cycnodes hybrids are a proven combination giving excellent results and lots of AOS awards.  These are going to be bright yellow flowers of excellent shape and large size.  Excellent award potential with this grex.

Mo. Lime Tiger ‘SVO’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. expansum ‘Midori’

Mormodia (Mo.) is the hybrid genera between a Mormodes and Clowesia.  They have excellent breeding qualities that are passed along to their progeny.  This is one of the first hybrids using one of the new Mormodia on to a Catasetum making the hybrid genus Fredclarkeara (Fdk.).    Lime Tiger (Cl. Grace Dunn x Morm. elegans) has a green flower with darker green stripes; multiple spikes are produced per bulb with 25 or more flowers per stem.  The expansum has a dark, solid green flower and bright orange-yellow callus.  I am expecting flowers to be green with dark green stripes, very cool.  Flower life will be improved to 4-6 weeks with the pendulous inflorescences carrying 15-25 flowers.  

Cycd. Chiriquí (Cyc. warscewiczii ‘Giant Swan’ x Morm hookeri ‘SVO’) 

This is the re-make of a very successful hybrid using improved parental stock.  The Mormodes will be dominant for its dark red color and the Cycnoches will be dominant for its large, flat flower form. These are going to be large, bronze to red flowers with contrasting dark red lips of excellent shape.  Excellent award potential with this grex.

Fdk. After Dark ‘Morning After’ x Ctsm. pileatum ‘Green Gold’  

After Dark ‘Morning After’ is a green flower with a tiny bit of red spots in the lip, this is the rarest of rare color form for the After Dark grex as 99.9 % were either black, deep red or spotted red.  The pileatum is a clear green flower with an absolutely huge flat lip.  The expectation is for mostly green flowers with large flat lips.  I do expect a variety of flower colors possibly some dark reds.  Flower life will be excellent with blooms lasting 4 weeks or more.  A very different type of Fredclarkeara hybrid with amazing potential.

Ctsm. Jose Abalo ‘SVO’ x Ctsm. Orchidglade ‘Davie Ranches’ AM/AOS  

Here is something that I believe has huge potential.  Jose Abalo (Ctsm. sanguineum x Ctsm. Orchidglade) has an amazingly large heavy flower in deep burgundy on a strong stems of 15 or more.  Orchidglade (Ctsm. expansum x Ctsm. pileatum) is a beautifully colored large flower carried 13-15 per stem which blooms 2 or 3 times a year.  Expect strong stems holding the flower high above the plant is deep yellow and burgundy.  First Bloom photo

Cycd. Chiriquí  (Cyc. warscewiczii ‘Jumbo’ mutation x Morm hookeri ‘SVO’) 

This is the re-make of a very successful hybrid using improved parental stock, so successful I made it twice using different C. warscewiczii (see SVO 5048).  The Mormodes will be dominant for its dark red color and the Cycnoches will be dominant for its large, flat flower form. These are going to be large, bronze to red flowers with contrasting dark red lips of excellent shape.  Excellent award potential with this grex.

Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’ x Ctsm. denticulatum ‘SVO’ AM/AOS

Clowesetum (Clo.) hybrids are made up of a Clowesia x Catasetum.  They have several important traits like: improved flower life, multiple spiking habit, good form, and fragrance. This grex is quite exciting as it is the first paring of Ctsm. denticulatum with a Clowesia.  Both parents are small growing Catasetinae staying under 4” tall.  I am hoping for the denticulatum color and markings to come thru in the progeny and the Rebecca Northen to add its growth and bloom habit.  I think there is great potential here for a brand new look in Clowesetum.  Give these a try.

Ctsm. Frilly Doris ‘SVO II’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. lucis ‘Dana’s Bird of Paradise’ AM/AOS

Here is the first hybrid made with Ctsm. lucis and I can’t wait to see these bloom!  Ctsm. lucis has an inflorescence that comes up perfectly straight to a height of 3’ or more caring 25 green flowers with white lips.  Yes, a 3 foot tall spike!   Frilly Doris is an excellent parent with a number of successful hybrids to its name.   I’m expecting strong upright stems holding the flowers well above the foliage.  Flower color will be green with light burgundy spots and a frilly lip.  I guess I’ll have to wait to see these bloom…..

Ctsm. Frilly Doris ‘SVO II’ AM/AOS x Ctsm. Voodoo Dragon ‘SVO Vampire’

Frilly Doris (Ctsm. Doris Choice x Ctsm. Donna Marie) is a proven breeder it has a fantastic frilly lip, beautiful arrangement and blooms 3 times a year.  Voodoo Dragon (Ctsm. Dragon’s Teeth x Ctsm. Crownfox Voodoo) has an interesting dark color with a lip that looks like it has 2 fangs and 25 flowers per stem.  Breeding for flowers with blotches of color in shades of burgundy and a frilly or fanged lip.