Jianlan 'Jiazhou Xiumei' Variety Introduction and Care Key Points

Jiazhou Xiumei: Jianlan (Cymbidium ensifolium), plum petal type.  Originating from the mountain forests of the "Leshan Urban Green Heart" in Shizhong District, Leshan City, Sichuan, it was discovered by Leshan orchid enthusiast Luo Jianqi and named by Mr. Wu Changguang. It was once selected among the top thirty in the top ten famous flowers selection of Sichuan Jianlan (Four Seasons Orchid). As early as the summer of 1993, two well-known orchid growers from Chengdu, Sichuan came to Leshan, and upon seeing this flower, they immediately recognized it as a standard plum petal flower. In 1999, in the book "Appreciation and Cultivation of Famous Chinese Jianlan Varieties" by senior Guangdong orchid grower Mr. Xu Dongsheng, this flower was listed first among the famous plum petal varieties of Jianlan petal-type flowers. In 2006, Mr. Zhu Hexing, an orchid grower from Jiangsu, stated in "The Development of Traditional Petal-Type Theory" that this flower: "The three outer petals are green with a hint of red, edged with crystal, elegant and pretty, a true plum petal bicolor flower." This flower has now been included in "The Soul of Chinese Orchids" jointly compiled by China, Japan and Korea as a "Famous Chinese Orchid," truly a premium plum petal variety of Four Seasons Orchid.

Characteristics: This orchid's mature plants can reach 5 to 7 leaves; the leaf shape is slanted-upright to semi-pendant, the leaf surface is wavy and wrinkled, leaf width is about 1 to 1.5 cm, and leaf height is 30 to 45 cm; easy to cultivate, robust, with a high germination rate. The sepals of this flower are short and round, the outer petals narrow at the base, widening toward the middle, with angled tips at the front; the petal edges have excellent tight edging, forming a hood, shaped like a deep spoon; the main petal is upright yet leaning forward, the side petals embrace inward with a good enclosing form, the coloring is elegant and pretty, green with a hint of red, red bicolor with crystal edging; the column petals have moderate masculinization, hardening into white heads forming ear-picking scoop-shaped column centers, separated into compartments, embracing the column, with a small ru-yi tongue; the flower scape rises above the leaves, with a spirited and majestic appearance, stable flower form, excellent flower retention, and a pure, serene fragrance.