Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' FCC/AOS

Fredclarkeara (Fdk.) After Dark is a complex hybrid of the genera Catasetum, Mormodes, and Clowesia, which belong to the (unfortunately) little-known orchids of the subtribe Catasetinae.

This hybrid was registered in 2002 by Fred Clarke (Sunset Valley Orchids, California), and 'SVO Black Pearl' is a selection of this hybrid with particularly dark, deep black (in the right light) and very fragrant flowers. It was awarded a First Class Certificate (FCC) by the American Orchid Society (AOS) and is probably the most beautiful black-flowered orchid.

The flowers are waxy, shiny, and have a pleasant spicy and sweet fragrance, especially from morning to noon, lasting about 2 weeks. In back light, you can see that they are actually a very deep red. However, when the light comes from the front, they appear completely black. The flowers appear on pendant inflorescences with 10 to 40 individual blooms.

Orchids from the subtribe Catasetinae are seasonal and deciduous plants. They grow rapidly from spring to autumn and have large, elongated leaves which are then shed in autumn and winter. Fdk. After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' reaches a leaf span of approximately 80 to 100 cm. The plants then bloom in a leafless state, usually from December to February, before new shoots emerge again around March.