Named in honor of Mr. Chrisman himself, the founder of our nursery the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, the plants offered here are divisions of the very same plant of the very first orchid he purchased in 1947 at Thrifty Drug Store in Beverly Hills! He had a lifetime interest in plants, and he was a forestry major at Oregon State. Although he worked as an insurance executive for his career it was ten years after that, as a retirement project, that he opened this nursery in Santa Barbara with Paul Gripp as his first employee.
As its origin affirms this is a very easy growing orchid variety with jaunty star-shaped flowers, three to four inches across, displaying the soft purple-pink color and bold lip that are classic to this species. This variety is also remarkably compact for a Laelia anceps, with the overall height when in bloom at just about 24 inches tall.
The wet Winters of 2023 and 2024 proved that this species must be protected from Winter dampness as even the tree-mounted mother plant struggled to dry out because of the increased shade caused by nearby trees over time. Our potted and mounted divisions are now guarded from the seasonal rains where the direct Winter sun can dry them quickly when the rain is over.
Now early October of 2025, our mother plant in our Chrisman Garden has about 20 spikes, which might be in bloom for
* * * SBOE's 2025 Fall Open House, November 7th - 9th.* * *
For the upcoming 3-day weekend, besides our usual open days of Friday and Saturday, we will be open 10am-2pm on both Sunday October 12th and Monday October 13th.
Established blooming-size divisions from our mother plant, each with : 1 flower-spike, 3 mature green bulbs, potted in three-and-one-quarter inch pots.
Temperature Tolerant. November blooming. Species from Mexico.
Established blooming-size division from our mother plant, with one flower-spike, three mature green bulbs, potted in a three-and-one-quarter inch pot, $45.
Plus shipping and handling.