** Sobralia Hybrids **

There are 22 Sobralia hybrid names registered with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), representing 19 unique crosses, as well as several pending. Click here to access the RHS registration database online.

The first hybrid, Sobralia Wiganiae, was "registered" (on record) in 1856. The RHS database indicates that the parents were macrantha and xantholeuca, but no date or name of registrant is currently listed in the online database. This primary hybrid has more commonly been known as S. Veitchii, but Veitch's registration was in 1894, so the name Wiganiae has 48 years priority.

The next few hybrids were registered forty years later, in 1894 (Veitchii, synonomous with Wiganiae), 1895 (Amesiae/Amesiana), and 1897 (Roseo-macrantha; Sedenii). An additional 12 were registered between 1903 and 1923; apparently the early 20th century was the heyday of Sobralia popularity and hybridizing.

In the intervening 90 years, only three additional Sobralia hybrids have been registered-- Sobralia Songbird (New Zealand, 2004), Sobralia Amanecer (USA, 2000), and Sobralia Yellow Kiss (USA, 1999). The time has come for a renewed effort in this area!

For a detailed description of the process of making and raising one particular sobralia hybrid, read the marvelous article written for the Sobralia Pages by New Zealand hybridizer Peter C. Elfleet: "Life History of Sobralia Songbird," (Thanks, Peter!!): Sobralia Songbird. This hybrid was awarded in New Zealand in January 2007, the first sobralia hybrid to be recognized by an established judging body.

The Registered Hybrids:
Hybrid name = (seed parent x pollen parent) (Originator; registration date)

Sobralia Lydia (xantholeuca x fimbriata)

S. Amanecer = atropubescens x sessilis (Hoosier Orchids, 7/28/2000)

S. Amesiae = wilsoniana x xantholeuca (Sanders, St. Albans, 1895)

S. Amesiana = wilsoniana x xantholeuca (S., 1895)

S. Baron Ohara = Amesiae x macrantha (Tokyo Botanic Gardens, 1923)

S. Colmaniae = Veitchii x xantholeuca (Colman, 1907)

S. Dellensis = leucoxantha x lowii (Schroder, 1907)

S. Edina = holfordii x xantholeuca (Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, 1926)

S. Gatton Lily = holfordii x lucasiana (Colman, 1915)

S. Inverleith = lowii x xantholeuca (Edinburgh Botanic Garden, 1926)

S. Jeanette = charlesworthii x Veitchii (Charlesworth Ltd., 1926)

S. Luminosa = holfordii x wilsoniana (Sanders, St. Albans, 1903)

S. Lydia = xantholeuca x fimbriata (Bruce Rogers, Calif., pending 2007)

Sobralia Raymond (violacea x powellii)

S. Lyoth = charlesworthii x macrantha (Charlesworth Ltd., 1919)

S. Mirabilis = macrantha x Veitchii (Sanders, St. Albans, 1903)

S. Raymond = violacea x powellii (Bruce Rogers, Calif., pending 2007)

S. Roseo-macrantha = macrantha x rosea (Veitch, 1897)

S. Schoenbrunnensis = macrantha x xantholeuca (Schoenbrunn Gdns., 1913)

S. Sedenii = macrantha x rosea (Veitch, 1897)

S. Shinjik = Dellensis x macrantha (Tokyo Botanic Gardens, 1923)

S. Siebertiana = hodgkinsonii x macrantha (Sanders, St. Albans, 1908)

Sobralia Songbird (macrantha x Mirabilis)

S. Songbird = macrantha x Mirabilis (P.C. Elfleet, 2004)

S. Veitchii = macrantha x xantholeuca (Veitch, 1894) - name invalid?; see S. Wiganiae.

S. Wiganiae = macrantha x xantholeuca (1856)

S. Yellow Kiss = xantholeuca x Mirabilis (Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, 6/29/99)

Sobralia x ecuadoriana (gentryi x powelii) -- Offered in Tropical Orchid Farm's 2005 catalog (TOF1851). Described as a natural hybrid from Ecuador, with photo. "Very large (5") white flowers with pink on lip and yellow in throat bloom successively from tall canes. Very satisfying plant - blooms over and over throughout a season." [ tiny photo from TOF.] Another possible photo of Sobralia ecuadoriana, from a show in Chicago, 2002.
See: Sobralia ecuadorana Dodson.

Sobralia (powellii 'Paki' CHM/AOS x Mirabilis) -- Near-blooming sized seedlings of this hybrid have been offered for sale on eBay since the first half of 2005, by "Orchidnuts" in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The flowers are described as concolor yellow, "with big flat lip and nice orange throat." They began to bloom after 6 years in flask. The Sob. Mirabilis (macrantha x Veitchii) parent was said to be cream-colored. More info on Sob. powellii.

Sobralia (decora x leucantha) -- Plant blooming in the University of Connecticut Conservatory. Source unknown, three plants in collection.

Intergeneric Hybrids:
None registered yet, but it may be possible to cross Sobralia with Elleanthus.

Purchasing Sobralia hybrids

Seedlings of S. Veitchii were available from Hoosier Orchid Co., www.hoosierorchid.com, Indiana.

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, www.sborchid.com, California, has S. Mirabilis and various species for sale.

Oz Gardens, www.ozgardens.com, is a wholesale nursery in California specializing in Sobralias, offering Sobralias in all growth stages: seed, flasks, seedlings, mature plants. Approximately 25 crosses, species and named varieties (photos above). Nurseries in California. Owned by Bruce Rogers (email: bruce@ozgardens.com) and Terry Root. Alternate email: ozgardens@pacbell.net, or tel: 415.235.4819

** Please let me know of any other sources **

This website was born in August 2000.
© Nina Rach

Comments? Questions? Send e-mail: sobralia@autrevie.com

---