Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
This was the first I'd heard of a cultivar other than 'Sundust', too!
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Rod McLellan Orchid Co. in San Francisco, sold a mericlone of 'Dixon' in the 80's. (It actually was the first orchid I bought!) 'Dixon' has a few more larger and fuller form flowers per spike and a lighter yellow than 'Golden El', but it tends to bloom more easily in the cooler climates in Northern CA.
Since McLellan registered the Paul Gripp cross in 1978, one would expect different seedlings to run about in the SF bay area in the late 70's/early 80's and they did. Just none as overall nice as 'Sundust' in McLellan's opinion or mericloned as extensively! This plant signified the first time a bright colored smaller hybrid, blooming months before the usual Cymbidium season started, had been easily available to the public and it was greeted with open arms.
The flowers are short lived but their fragrance makes up for their short display. The fact that this cross is still alive and well, still being used for hybridizing in both its 2n and 4n forms, and still being sold in the market place today, speaks for its continued popularity.
Although now surpassed in quality by most of its hybrids, to me Golden Elf signals the true start of the Cymbidium season.
CL
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