Fragrant Cymbidiums

[Randy]

Greetings fellow orchid lovers ,

I have a couple of species cymbidiums which are fragrant. And it's easy to find out more about which species are fragrant. What I'd like to know is about hybrids which are fragrant.

I'd like to find some that are both fragrant and showy. Is that possible? :

:
Randy

[Cym Ladye]

Randy,

Hybridizers are working to perpetuate the fragrance from several Cymbidium species and are gradually getting more positive results. However, that said, fragrance generally diminishes the further the breeding gets away from the original fragrant species.

At this time look for first generation hybrids from ensifolium and sinense species. Golden Elf hybrids have some fragrance but it depends on the other parent. (Golden Elf being an ensifolium first generation hybrid).

In standard species, tracyanum itself is very fragrant but few of its progeny consistently carry a fragrance. That does not mean that some tracyanum hybrids are not fragrant - just not all hybrids from all crosses.

Don't despair Randy. Reliable fragrance is on the way, but as of now, it is more hit or miss amongst the first and second generation hybrids away from the fragrant species.



CL

[unhappykat]

The growers at SBOE have some divisions of very fragrant species and hybrids that theyre have developed over the years but they are not cheap. If you are looking for seedlings it will be hit and miss as far as scent due to the variability in species and hybrids, even species know to be fragrant can have progeny with little or no fragrance, very irritating. I would realy reccoment a tracyanum if you dont already have one, select clones have the most pleasing and powerful fragrance.

[orchids3]

Hi,
Am finding most ensafolium hybrids fragrant. Golden Elf is one. The 'Cym Yellow Candy' I posted a few days ago
is very fragrant which is a 2nd generation ensafolium hybrid and has Golden Elf as a parent. One bad thing about fragrant cymbidiums is that the flowers do not last long - a lot of energy is put into fragrance by the flower. The fragrance of cymbidiums is really unique and very nice.

[Randy]

& :

I already have a tracyanum. I wanted to keep it growing as one huge plant but a friend gave me a Night Blooming Cyrus and I promised him a piece of the tracyanum so I divided it. I know the piece I'm keeping will get large again but......And I actually now have 2 plants because a back bulb came off and I have that in a separate pot and it is has a new growth. BTW, I got it from SBOE. I don't mind their prices so much as the shipping. WOW! It's almost more than the cost of the plants! But, they do have the nicest Cyms I've purchased over the internet.

I'll be looking for the Golden Elf and it's hybrids. I know the flowers don't last as long, but I have lots of other Cyms so it's OK. I love the spicy fragrance of the tracyanum.

Many Randy