Anyone know of HUGE flowering maudiae type?

[NYCorchidman]

Tuesday morning, I visited a cut flower store in flower district and saw paphiopedilum maudiae alba type flowers. The size of each flower was larger than an adult's hand!

Does anyone know of such hybrid??

I would love to get the plant.

[jeremyinsf]

I think it's Paph. Clair de Lune.

One of my local growers has them, or at least, whatever he told me was the largest as you describe. And yes, the flowers are massive. He has several in bloom now and I saw them a couple weeks ago. They are so much larger than the other maudiaes that they look unreal (in their own way).

[NYCorchidman]

Oh, ok, thank you.

I think I can easily get one.
I've heard of them a lot before but never realized that's the one with the gigantic sized flowers.

I'm going shopping~

[jeremyinsf]

Have fun!!! Would love to see a pic with what you end up with, and the story!

[PaphMadMan]

Cultural conditions and plant size can make a big difference in size of Paph flowers, so grower's skill and patience are important. Paph Maudiae 'The Queen' has been reported at 18.5cm natural spread. There may be more modern breeding lines out there with even larger potential, but I'm sure 'The Queen' is the largest of the type I have ever seen in person in 40 years of looking. She's usually not too hard to find if you make some effort.

---------- Post added at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

If you can find Paph Clair de Lune 'Edgard van Belle' it might be a close second, but probably not bigger than Paph Maudiae 'The Queen'.

[NYCorchidman]

Ok, I've heard of that one too.

Thank you!

[The Orchid Boy]

I have a large Paph. Wossner Kolosuk v. album seedling from Orchid Inn. It grows really fast and is easy and can have quite a few flowers per spike and the blooms are very large, I've only seen pictures but the flowers are very big and quite stunning.

[NYCorchidman]

No, that's not the plant. Alba maudiae with gigantic size flower.
I think I have to find The Queen.
Santa Barbara sells maudiae "The Queen" but I doubt it is the correct name because the leaves of the plant in their picture do not look like the leaves of "The Queen" clone.

I've found where to look for Clair de Lune "Edgard Van Belle" and the pictures look right.

couldn't find anywhere to get Alma Gevaert.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

No, that's not the plant. Alba maudiae with gigantic size flower.
I think I have to find The Queen.
Santa Barbara sells maudiae "The Queen" but I doubt it is the correct name because the leaves of the plant in their picture do not look like the leaves of "The Queen" clone.

I've found where to look for Clair de Lune "Edgard Van Belle" and the pictures look right.

couldn't find anywhere to get Alma Gevaert.

Just got home. My grower tells me the Queen is not the largest, and also told me on his own (as you sort of suggest here) people sell other plants by that name as sort of a knock off. He says the Clair is indeed the one. He is internationally awarded and I trust him pretty much unconditionally, but, that's just me.

He says Clair is a very vigorous grower, and when mature will often put out two flowers per spike, as I saw in some of the plants. He had a Alma Gevaert but said it didn't grow as well. Anyway, here's a picture for you. The flower was a bit larger than six inches... it's only now that I see it on the computer and not on my phone I can tell it didn't take the most amazing photo. But you get the point.

I went ahead and bought one for myself... thank you for your suggestion

PS forgot to mention, yes, it's a "Edgard Van Belle".

[jeremyinsf]

I'm going to the place I saw the others I mentioned in my previous post sometime in the next several days. I will take a few pictures and get the name of what he has, if you'd like.