We know that autumn is coming when Cymbidium Devon Elf ‘Everglades’ begins to spike. This late summer to early autumn bloomer (August-October, usually) is a favorite first of fall Cymbidium, after Cymbidium madidum and Cymbidium canaliculatum (and their hybrids, such as Cymbidium Mitzi and Cymbidium Canterbury) are fading from flower.
Devon Elf alludes to the parentage: Cymbidium ‘Golden Elf’ and Cymbidium devonianum. Our other Cymbidium devonianum hybrids are primarily spring bloomers; ‘Golden Elf’ shifts the bloom season to autumn for Cymbidium Devon Elf.
In general, Cymbidium devonianum hybrids are well-suited to our location, tolerant of summer heat and winter cold. They seem particularly amenable to the dry winter rest that we give our outdoor Cymbidium for 6-10 weeks during the coldest part of the year (November-January). The timing varies with temperature; some years we see the first serious cold in mid-November, and other years it is mid-December. Winter storms usually bring somewhat milder weather in January. Unlike most other locations in North America, our coldest weather is usually in December.
Cymbidium Devon Elf is a very free-blooming devonianum hybrid, much like Cymbidium Geno’s Gem ‘Emerald Fire’ HCC/AOS. I have noted that other Cymbidium devonianum hybrids are much less consistent in their blooming, particularly Cymbidium Devon’s Prophecy and Cymbidium Mary Green, though both of our plants grow strongly.
The size of our Cymbidium devonianum hybrids varies notably. Cymbidium Devon Elf is a moderately sized plant, with leaves rather similar to the species parent. In contrast, Cym. Mary Green and Cym. Devon’s Prophecy are more compact growers (relatively speaking, that is, for a Cymbidium). Both have shorter, wider leaves. Cymbidium Geno’s Gem ‘Emerald Fire HCC/AOS is the largest of them all in our collection, with leaves that I would describe as both long and relatively broad in shape. This plant requires plenty of space!
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