This orchid combines our appreciation of several Cymbidium qualities: older hybrids and lots of spots. Cymbidium Early King is an “antique” hybrid by today’s standards, originating in 1969. It is the cross of Cym. Grand Monarch and Cym. Lucy Moore. The background parentage is 39% Cym. hookerianum, 19% Cym. eburneum, 19% Cym. tracyanum, 17% Cym. insigne, and 6% Cym. lowianum.
The flower of Cym. Early King ‘James’ is unique, reflecting the uncommon combination of the three dominant species in the background (Cym. hookerianum, Cym. eburneum, Cym. tracyanum). The plant is quite large, easily over 3 feet (1 m) in breadth, and the pseudobulbs are distinctly tall, ovoid, and large as well.
It is a temperature tolerant hybrid, and has been amenable to our increasingly variable (both hotter and colder) growing conditions. We grow Cym. Early King outside year-round, and shelter in the garage only when nights are forecast below 27F (-2.5C) for a few days.
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My vision to create orchid portraits emerged from my appreciation for the “whole orchid.” So many photographs of orchids focus only on the flower. But orchids are not flowers: they are entire plants and living beings. Connect more deeply with the many dimensions of orchids …
