Cattleya tenebrosa
Big flowers, sultry bronzed colors, and a bold two-tone lip: these are all the hallmarks of this singularly handsome, Brazilian species. This is an all-time favorite flower for Summer, with large blooms easily reaching 6 inches across, some even bigger. The foliage can stand 18 inches tall, and the large specimens in full bloom are real show-stoppers!

These seedlings are from crossing of select parents, and their bronzed colors range from smoky fawn-brown to bright copper, and on rare occasion even golden hues. It's the signature lip, however, that really 'steals the show': the rich, rosy-pink lip shifts dramatically to a crimson throat so dark it can appear nearly black on some flowers! A superb outdoor orchid!
Formerly classified as a Laelia.

Established blooming-size seedlings. 'Seedlings' are the offspring of pollination; as siblings these may be similar, yet each is unique and no two are identical in precise color or shape. There is no way to tell before they bloom which colors and display each will express. Enjoy the surprise!

Temperature Tolerant. July blooming. Species from Brazil.
Orchid of the Day: June 27, 2023

Laelia anceps 'Mr Chrismans First Orchid'
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.
Orchid of the Day: October 10, 2025

Laelia anceps 'SanBar Pink Splendor'
Another stunning member of our exceptional "Pink Perfection" line of breeding. True to form, this plant produces big, full flowers of the distinctive powder-pink hue of its pedigree, accented by a vibrant, deep pink lip. In addition to all its elegant beauty the plant retains the resilience of its light-loving species, thriving outdoors through Winter and Summer alongside the hardiest orchids. In all, this is a plant worthy of its "Pink Perfection" pedigree!

Established blooming-size divisions from our mother-plant.

Temperature Tolerant. December blooming. Species from Mexico.
Orchid of the Day: November 1, 2022

Laelia anceps 'SanBar Pink Triumph', AM/AOS
A very full and shapely clone from the Pink Perfection Strain line of breeding. The color is a soft lavender-pink with a light purple tint. . Temperature Tolerant. January - February blooming. Species from Mexico.
Orchid of the Day: January 4, 2015

Laelia anceps 'SanBar Pinkie', HCC/AOS
One of the finest of the Pink Perfection line. The phenomenal pedigree of this plant is from the combination of two outstanding Laelia anceps cultivars, 'Wallbrunn' AM/AOS and 'SanBar Marble King' AM/AOS; and is setting new standards for size and shape in the Laelia anceps group. The plant offered here is true to form with it exquisite shape and shell-pink hue with vibrant lip accent. . Temperature Tolerant. January - February blooming. Species from Mexico.
Orchid of the Day: December 1, 2015