Cypripedium hybrids

Svante Malmgren Henric Nyström

Orchid propagation

Cypripedium hybrids

There are for the moment approximately 70-80 different Cypripedium hybrids, raised artificially. There are some different registers, depending on how the species are distinguished and defined. We refer to the list of the Cypripedium World Champion, Mr Werner Frosch in Germany.

Fundamentally, almost any two Cypripedium species can be crossed and produce a seed capsule. In almost all cases seeds also develop and germinate on medium - but several hybrids do not develop normally, and even
more are not viable is soil.

At least 12-15 of our hybrids examined never reached flowering size in soil, some died quickly in soil - all this of course due to poor genetic "fitting". For example, of 4 different Cyp guttatum hybrids tried, all grew rather well but eventually
died in soil rather early.

When using Cyp reginae as mother plant
in hybridising you usually get 100 % Cyp reginae as off-spring, due to so called apomixes! It can be used as father plant, for example in Cyp "Ulla Silkens".

Also, when you have found a good hybrid
combination, and plan to raise it on a scale, it can be important to use not only the same clones, but also the same individual male and female plant to get a good result. A change of female and male species also in many cases gives different results!

On the other hand, many hybrids are excellent garden plants, with a beauty and growth vigour which go well beyond most species! But you never ever know in advance if the hybrid will be beautiful and hardy and easy to grow! A large number of hybrids registered are just raised in very limited numbers - and are not a good garden plants, though if good-looking!!

With increased experience, a number
of hybrids will crystallize into very good
and common garden plants, also outside
the circle of the experts. But several hybrids will be lack of vitality or are difficult to grow.

The two most sold and widely spread Cypripedium hybrids are Cyp "Gisela" and Cyp 'Ulla Silkens'. These seem to grow in all kinds of soil in all climate zones, and quickly increase by division.

Mr Werner Frosch in Germany has raised a very large number of Cypripedium hybrids from seeds, but still he recommends only a very limited number for "common gardening". Future and more experience
will show the superior ones, when they are being raised in larger numbers and grown for some more years.

We shall try to describe our own experience with hybridising, giving some recommendations, and possibly a little prognosis of the future. There is a large number of hybrids we have never ever
seen, less tried to grow. We describe only hybrids of which we have our own experience in growing or propagating.
Several hybrids are not in flowering size yet, and a fair judgment can't be done.

+ not so good for gardening
++ a good garden plant
+++ a very good garden plant

Cyp Ulla Silkens ( C flavum x reginae) with 91 flowers in 2004 June. Beside Werner Frosch´s Cyp Gisela the best and the most sold hybrid of Cypripedium.	Cyp. 'Gisela'

This hybrid has the same parents as Cyp. 'Aki' but we have mad the crossing the "opposite way".		Cyp. parviflorum x tibeticum
Cypripedium 'Ulla Silkens', 10 % are almost pure white.		Cyp. calceolus x macranthos




Hybrids between Cyp. parviflorum and other species are often very good combinations...		...for example crossed with Cyp. tibeticum; Cyp. 'Axel'
Cyp. parviflorum x Cyp. speciosum and Cyp, parviflorum x Cyp. macranthos. Can behave a little differently later on in medium and in soil.		Cyp. 'Axel' in beautiful garden surroundings.

Cypripedium 'Aki' (macranthos x parviflorum var. pubescens) +++ One of the most beautiful hybrids, very big flower, also erect and tall. Very variable in colour in different plants. One of the very best from Werner Frosch! We have have raised it too, with "opposite crossing", see below.	Cyp "Aki". A very good Cyp hybrid; big flower. tall erect stem!
Cypripedium 'Axel' (parviflorum x tibeticum) +++ is a beautiful hybrid, very big flower. A disadvantage for the propagator is the rather slow initial growth in soil, but finally big and healthy plants. But parviflorum x macranthos seem to have stronger Growth.	Cyp Axel ( Cyp parviflorum x tibeticum) is a very tall plant with chequered flowers	Cyp parviflorum x tibeticum

Cypripedium 'Gisela' (parviflorum x macranthos) +++ is another of Werner Frosch´s very best hybrids. Very beautiful flower - and very easy to grow in gardens. Using different clones/plants of macranthos/speciosum etc gives hybrids with different growing qualities but they are always very beautiful and good garden plants.	Cyp. 'Gisela'. 2004 just one stem; 2005 two stems with flowers
Cypripedium 'Inge' (parviflorum x fasciolatum) We have bought some small plants of this hybrid to test it. Future will tell if Cyp parviflorum or Cyp calceolus is the best hybrid partner to Cyp fasciolatum, Werner Frosch has raised both of them.
Cypripedium 'Johnny Petersen' +++ Our own first variety of "Gisela", growing like that one, but with differently coloured flowers. Very easy to propagate and to grow, like most parviflorum hybrids. Has been raised in rather large numbers.	Cypripedium 'Johnny Petersen, first year in soil	Cypripedium 'Johnny Petersen' a red form	This is the usual look of Cypripedium 'Johnny Petersen'.
Cypripeidum 'Maria' (parviflorum x speciosum) Is another parviflorum hybrid, this with Cyp speciosum. Initially raised by Werner Frosch, we now raise that one on a large scale. Grows like similar ones.
Cypripeidum 'Michael' (macranthos x henryi) +++ is another hybrid from Werner Frosch. It has a very beautiful flower and has blossomed some sequential years in our garden. The flower is not very big, being 50% Cyp Henryi.	In 2005 this hybrid plant blossomed for the first time. Future will tell how good it is a a garden plant.
Cypripedium 'Pixi' (calceolus x tibeticum) +++ Very easy to grow and hardy. We use a 40 cm tall Cyp tibeticum for crossing and the hybrid is approx 35-40 cm tall. Are being propagated in large numbers.	On the right Cypripedium 'Pixi' (calceolus x tibeticum)	Cyp calceolus x tibeticum. Grows to approx 35 cm height.
Cypripedium 'Philipp' (kentuckiense x macranthos) ++ We just have one adult plant.. It is a very big flower, rather pale colours. Will probably be common in garden growing.	Cyp "Philipp".
Cypripedium 'Prof. Karl Robatsch' (reginae x acaule ) + Well, the plant we bought from the propagator looks just like a common Cyp reginae - as usually is the case with reginae hybrids if reginae is the mother plant...
Cypripedium 'Princess' (reginae x lichiangense) (Cyp reginae father plants) + Initially raised by Mr Carson Whitlow many years ago - but our seedlings have still 10 years after sowing not flowered! Can not be recommended...	Cyp. 'Princess' TEN YEARS after sowing!
Cypripedium 'Sabine' (fasciolatum x macranthos) We just have a few plants from the propagator and don't have so much experience yet. We have made the crossing in summer 2005.
Cypripedium 'Sebastian' (parviflorum x montanum) ++ Another good parviflorum hybrid. We have a few adult plants from the propagator. Beautiful flower - but the plant could have been more vital (?)	Cypripedium 'Sebastian'
Cypripedium 'Sunny' (fasciolatum x calceolus) +++ According to pictures from Werner Frosch it seems to be an XXL Cyp calceolus!! Probably a very good garden plant, and we have very recently (late July 2005) sown seeds of it.
Cypripedium 'Ulla Silkens' (reginae x flavum) +++ One of the very best Cypripedium hybrids! Can be described as a very much improved Cyp reginae with a great variability in colouring from pure white to dark red lip. Tall, erect, quickly increasing by division and seems to grow in any soil and any climate condition. We have raised several thousands of it through out the years.	Cyp Ulla Silkens grows fastest of all Cyps.(C flavum x reginae) 1:a the year in soil!!	Cyp. 'Ulla Silkens' can grow "anywhere" and form large colonies.	Cyp. 'Ulla Silkens' is variable in colouring.
Cypripedium 'Tower Hill' (pubescens x speciosum) +++ We have also raised this one several years ago, and it is similar to Cyp "Aki" and an excellent garden plant with its big flowers and erect stems. More propagation of Cyp pubescens x different macranthos types are going on.	Cyp pubescens x speciosum is a very, very beautiful plant.	Tall and erect, like Cyp "Aki".
Cypripedium calceolus x macranthos. ++ Like other calceolus hybrids a little slower initial growth in soil than parviflorum hybrids - but later on big, healthy, beautiful plants. We have crossed calceolus with a white macranthos summer 2005.	Cyp calceolus x macranthos – beautiful and healthy.
*Cypripedium flavum x fasciolatum* Sown for the first time 2002. Seems to be very vigorous also in soil and we have great hopes for a new good garden plant. Good winter survival outdoors of small plants.	Here's a new promising hybrid; Cyp flavum x fasciolatum. with a very strong growth, good survival also outdoors in winter and long growing season. Here first year in soil.
Cypripedium flavum x formosanum Sown 2003 and 2004. Easy to propagate on medium, good survival in soil first year, but small so far, first year in soil. Developed leaves late, like flavum, this could indicate that the "formosanum risk" of freezing in early spring is low.	Cypripedium flavum can be hybridized with almost any other Cyp -a few are not viable but almost all. On the right crossed with Cyp Formosanum.	First year on soil
Cypripedium flavum x corrugatum Sown 2002 and 2003. Seems to be a rather poor hybrid with small plants In soil and some losses. Poor genetic match?
Cypripedium hotei-atsumorianum x tibeticum Sown 2003 and 2004 and more is planned! Seems very promising, growth both on medium and in soil better than either of the originals! We have used the 40 cm tall tibeticum as male plant.	Another a new exiting hybrid. Are now being raised in a very large scale.	On the left Cypripedium hotei-atsumorianum x tibeticum
Some more hybrids are growing on medium, or in soil at young age. We will report later about results. You can also go on with with hybridising, using a hybrid as mother plant, and pollen from a species. In some cases no or very few seeds develop, in other cases a large number of seeds develop. In soil we have some very very strong Cyp pubescens x macranthos x tibeticum. On medium we have a large number of Cyp 'Ulla Silkens' x tibeticum and x macranthos. - But if they are better looking with better growing qualities remains to be seen..	Cyp. pubescens x speciosum x tibeticum first year on soil.

Achim	pubescens	froschii	Frosch	2003
Aki	macranthos	pubescens	Frosch	1996
x alaskanum	guttatum	yatabeanum	P.M. Br.	1995
x andrewsii	parviflorum	candidum	Fuller	1932
Annette	macranthos	candidum	Frosch	2002
Axel	parviflorum	tibeticum	Malmgren	1998
Bernd	macranthos	segawai	Frosch	2001
Betty Maier	macranthos	planipetalum	Maier	2004
Bill	pubescens	tibeticum	Frosch	2004
Carolin	calceolus	speciosum	Frosch	1991
Carson	parviflorum	formosanum	Frosch	1992
x catherinae	macranthos	shanxiense	Averyanov	1999
Chauncey	parviflorum	segawai	Whitlow	1993
Cleo Pinkepank	kentuckiense	hotei	Pinkepank	1998
x columbianum	montanum	pubescens	Sheviak	1992
Dietrich	calceolus	kentuckiense	Frosch	2003
Emil	parviflorum	calceolus	Frosch	1993
Erika	calceolus	candidum	Frosch	2003
Fantasy	reginae	magaritaceum	Whitlow	1992
x favillianum	pubescens	candidum	Curtis	1932
Francis	kentuckiense	speciosum	Robinson	2000
Gabriela	fasciolatum	kentuckiense	Frosch	2003
Genesis	reginae	pubescens	Whitlow	1987
Gidget	candidum	henryi	Whitlow	1993
Gisela	parviflorum	macranthos	Frosch	1992
Hank Small	parviflorum	henryi	Whitlow	1991
Hedi	Ingrid	macranthos	Frosch	1997
Heike	formosanum	segawai	Frosch	1998
x herae	reginae	pubescens	Sheviak	2004
Hideki Okuyama	fasciolatum	ventricosum	Frosch	2001
Hilda	kentuckiense	ventricosum	Robinson	2001
Inge	parviflorum	fasciolatum	Frosch	2003
Ingrid	parviflorum	cordigerum	Frosch	1989
Johanna	kentuckiense	corrugatum	Robinson	2003
Johnny Petersen	parviflorum	rebunense	Malmgren	1999
Julie Ann	kentuckiense	calcicolum	Keisling	2004
Karl Heinz	calceolus	cordigerum	Frosch	1990
Kathleen Anne Green	kentuckiense	henryi	Whitlow	1992
Kristi Lyn	pubescens	henryi	Keisling	2003
x landonii	parviflorum	favillianum
Lisbeth	Gisela	calceolus	Döpper	2004
Lois	kentuckiense	taiwanianum	Robinson	2003
Lucy Pinkepank	kentuckiense	tibeticum	Pinkepank	1998
Maria	parviflorum	speciosum	Frosch	1991
Memoria Gerd Kohls	calceolus	henryi	Lowland Biotech	1995
Michael	macranthos	henryi	Frosch	1998
Otto	calceolus	pubescens	Frosch	1991
Patrick Pinkepank	planipetalum	tibeticum	Pinkepank	1998
Philipp	kentuckiense	macranthos	Frosch	1997
Pixi	calceolus	tibeticum	Corkhill	2003
Princess	reginae	lichiangense	Whitlow	1995
Prof. Karl Robatsch	reginae	acaule	Raschun	2004
Promises	formosanum	acaule	Whitlow	1988
Rascal	kentuckiense	parviflorum	Whitlow	1990
Robin Lee	farreri	kentuckiense	Keisling	2000
Sabine	fasciolatum	macranthos	Frosch	2002
Sandra M	macranthos	yatabeanum	Maier	2004
Sebastian	parviflorum	montanum	Frosch	1998
Sunny	fasciolatum	calceolus	Frosch	2004
Tanja Pinkepank	rebunense	calceolus	Pinkepank	1998
Tower Hill	pubescens	speciosum	Keisling	2003
Ulla Silkens	reginae	flavum	Malmgren	1996
Ulli	pubescens	cordigerum	Frosch	1994
Ursel	fasciolatum	henryi	Frosch	2003
Uta	fasciolatum	froschii	Frosch	2004
x ventricosum	calceolus	macranthos	Swartz	1800
x wenqingiae	farreri	tibeticum	Perner	1998
Werner	candidum	yatabeanum	Whitlow	1993
Werner Frosch	henryi	hotei	Manthey	2003
	pubescens	kentuckiense
	calceolus	shanxiense