Thelychiton speciosus var grandiflorum 'Kroombit Tops'

[emydura]

A nice clone that was originally collected from the Kroombit Tops in Queensland (as the clonal name suggests). This is the best it has ever flowered. The flowers can get a more golden yellow then this if they develop in cooler conditions. But it has been so cold here I have been growing it in my heated glasshouse. The flowers are a very good size too, bigger then most for this species.

 

[Secundino]

Superb!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

That is amazing. Great photos too - thank you for sharing.

 

[Ozpaph]

a wonderful display

 

[OrchidIsa]

OH!!! :drool::drool: This is wonderful!!

 

[Marco]

Wow quite a show. i love the vibrant yellow.

 

[Erythrone]

Oh wow!!!

 

[Rick]

What a massive show:clap::clap:

 

[theshatterings]

Spectacular!

 

[Lanmark]

Stunning!

 

[NYEric]

Nice. Fragrance? How cold is it there? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I love this kind of orchids very much!
Beautiful display!!!

 

[emydura]

Nice. Fragrance? How cold is it there? Thanks for sharing.

It is very fragrant Eric. I have it inside the house and the aroma is amazing. I like it but the rest of the family are not so keen. It is quite strong.

We had nights down to around -7oC. I normally have the speciosum's outside under cover. They can survive pretty cold temperatures. But when it gets that cold it can kill the buds.

I forgot to say that someone in the US has a division of this clone. When I got my division, the seller said he sold another piece to a US grower for about fives times what I paid for it.

 

[SlipperFan]

That is mind-blowing! I love Aussie Dens!

 

[raymond]

wow very nice

 

[Secundino]

I'm looking every day at it - it is so beautiful. No way to get this kind of special clones over here in Europe.
To which extend this species needs cold winters to flower well?

 

[Ozpaph]

To which extend this species needs cold winters to flower well?

Mine flowers and it rarely gets below 8-10C in Brisbane.

 

[TyroneGenade]

Oo! Amazing. I want one.

 

[emydura]

I'm looking every day at it - it is so beautiful. No way to get this kind of special clones over here in Europe.
To which extend this species needs cold winters to flower well?

Good yellow clones aren't that common here either but you can get them if you look hard enough. This one has quite a nice shape too. Grandiflorums are often very bow legged but the flowers on this one can open up nicely. The flowers on the early spikes opened up beautifully while it was nice and sunny (second photo). The later spikes opened up while it was very cloudy. Those flowers are a bit more bow legged.

Getting divisions of nice clones is a good idea with this species. A lot of speciosums can be very average. Even seedlings from quality parents doesn't guarantee you good flowers. I have flowered a few selfings of "National White" HCC/AOC and they have all been pretty ordinary. No better than bush plants. Fortunately I received a small division of "National White" recently so I now have the real thing. I also got divisions of "Windermere" HCC/AOC, "Charlie" AM/AOC and "Glennins" AM/AOC for a good price. It might take a while but you will eventually see a range of quality speciosum's.

This species is found over a very wide range from the cooler areas of Victoria right up to the tropical regions of Queensland. So it can grow and flower at a range of temperatures. As Stephen said they will flower at warmer temperatures. Like a lot of orchids the colour tends to intensify if the flowers develop at cooler temperatures. One advantage of growing this species in Canberra is I don't have to worry about the Dendrobium beetle. That is a shocking pest in warmer climates.

 

[Migrant13]

A most excellent specimen. Wish we had theses more available in the states.