Blue Orchids

[Jorge_Burrito]

No, not sad orchids, but orchids with blue flowers. I have not really seen any except perhaps some Vandas that are more purple blue than blue blue. Anybody have any they can think of? If not, is their a scientific reason? Seems like flowers can be found in just about every other color pretty easily.

P.S. have been a lurker for awhile and just want to thank you all for all the great advice on the board.

[Undergrounder]

There are some really nice blue Phalaenopsis violaceas bred from var. coeruleas, you can see a few of them here:

Phalaenopsis violacea

There are also nice lighter blue Phals bred from D. pulcherrima and P. equestris... you can see them here:

Sapphire Dragon Orchids - Photo Gallery

(actually that has lots of good violaceas as well)

but getting blue without going purple is very hard

[brewmyster]

Morning Star Orchids In South Louisiana has a very large assortment of Blue Catts. Saw a few of them at our Fall show last weekend. You can contact Linda here at OB for info on them. Her and her Husband John are really nice people.

Mark

[jbsquared1]

Where in LA is Morning Star and how do you get in contact with them? Thanks!

[gerneveyn]

Originally Posted by jbsquared1

Where in LA is Morning Star and how do you get in contact with them? Thanks!

Thibodaux. Here's their website: Home

[sucuz]

Nice pice, but as Jorge said, they tend more to the purple than actual blue. Have seen some vandas with a nice delft blue 'crackle' finish on white. Don't recall ever seeing a real blue on anything else. Could be that, like the 'blue rose' that is actually shades of lavender that there isn't a blue gene to breed to. This may be the case with most orchids--no blue gene to breed to.

Have heard of the genetics people trying to separate a blue gene from lobelias and delphiniums to try to splice into to create a blue flower. Though this is cheating, there is money in coming up with the first flowers in a color that does not otherwise exist. One day we may see a 'frankenblue' orchid or rose.

Ethics of it all...don't even want to go there.

[Chubidubi]

Jorge

I'm personally haven't seen any true blue chids myself. I was actually thinking the same thing the other day .

[JennS]

I have discussed this exact thing with several people, including Jackie (Jckelee). I don't konw what the reason for it is, but everything "blue" in the "plant" world appears more purple than blue to me. Even the V. coerulea...they start off more blueish then turn more purpleish. I never have figured it out, except that it must be more close to blue in the namers eyes then purple?

[kavanaru]

this discussion was also here in OB quite long ago, I think before Christmass 2007, if I recall it correctly...

as far as I can say from my experience, it is also some Vandas (e.g. Magic Blue) the ones that would take place... even though, they are still "purple"

[Jorge_Burrito]

Looks like I am stuck with purple-blue until Frankenblue is made alive (Insert mad scientist laugh here). I will see if I can pick up one of those phals.

So I am assuming the lack of blue flowers is an evolutionary trait...ie blue flowers do not attract as many insects for some reason? Or is it more a chemical trait...ie the color blue is difficult to produce in nature? Something else I am not thinking about? Just for my curiosity, anyone have any input on this?