Darwinara Rainbow Stars (neofinetia falcata hybrid)

Darwinara Rainbow Stars is a neofinetia intergeneric hybrid. It’s parents are (Darwinara Charm 'Blue Star' x Neo. falcata 'Tamakongo'). It’s classic Neofinetia falcata hybrid that can exhibit a great deal of variety in its flower and foliage coloration. This unusual and exotic cross can produce a wide spectrum of colours ranging from dusty white, light pink, dark purple and even yellow or blue.

The flowers are fragrant and they bare a shape very close to a standard neofinetia flowers. This vigorous hybrid will grow much larger than its Neofinetia parent, though it retains the similar growth form and will quickly create a large healthy clump. Also as in neofinetia, thanks to the mutations the colour of the roots can vary from pale green, through mud and ruby.

These plants are best grown in various ways, similar to neofinetia orchids. Starting with hanged in baskets and on mounted and require bright to full sunlight and cool to intermediate temperatures. If hanged, the roots must be watered frequently. Plants should be grown in media that is well drained such as sphagnum moss and they will present themselves well in the traditional Japanese moss styled set up.

Below is a number of official registered varieties:

Darwinara Rainbow Stars ‘Blue Jay’ – Sepals and petals are lavender. Lip is purple.

Darwinara Rainbow Stars ‘Blue Bird’ – Sepals and petals are blue. Lip is blue.

Darwinara Rainbow Stars ‘Select Yellow’ – Sepals and petals are yellow. Lip is yellow.

Darwinara Rainbow Stars ‘Pink Pearl’ – Sepals and petals are pink. Lip is pink

Reverse crosses:

Darwinara Rainbow Stars ‘Kousei Hasegawa’ – Which is a reverse hybrid of Darwinara Rainbow Star x Neofinetia falcata 'Tamakongo'. Excellent dark purple with nice shaped flowers.

Darwinara Rainbow Star (new generation) (Darwinara Charm 'Blue Star' x N. falcata 'Hisui')

Below is a detailed parentage tree (this may be 90% accurate):

Generation 1 (youngest)

Darwinara Charm × Neofinetia falcata

Generation 2

Darwinara Charm =Vascostylis Tham Yuen Hae × Neofinetia falcata

Generation 3

Vascostylis Tham Yuen Hae = Vandachostylis Blue Angel × Ascocenda Ophelia

Generation 4

Ascocenda Ophelia = Vanda Bill Sutton × Ascocentrum curvifolium

Vandachostylis Blue Angel = Vanda Rothschildiana × Rhynchostylis coelestis

Generation 5 (oldest)

Vanda Bill Sutton = Vanda Manila × Euanthe sanderiana

Vanda Rothschildiana = Vanda coerulea × Euanthe sanderiana