Dendrobium Winifred Ogata (D. Caesar 4N x D. Joanna Mesina 4N), UH1371 is the third seed-propagated potted plant cultivar developed at the University of Hawaii with amphidiploid D. Caesar as one parent, Dendrobium Lim Chong Min, UH1382 (D. Caesar 4N x D. phalaenopsis var. compactum) was released in 1995, and D. Lorrie Mortimer (D. Caesar 4N x D. Samarai 4N) was released in 1998.

Amphidiploid D. Caesar was crossed to D. Joanna Mesina on September 9, 1989. Seeds were germinated on January 8, 1990, and the offspring began to flower about 30 months later. The flowers are two-tone lavender with darker coloration toward the extremities of both sepals and petals.

The attributes of D. Winifred Ogata, UH1371, are attractive two-tone lavender flowers measuring 3½ inches, relatively uniform offspring, flowering throughout the year but with peak flowering during fall and early winter (see chart), and exceptionally long half-life of flowers on plants (85 days). The half-life of sprays is the number of days before half of the flowers wilt or drop. The long life of its flowers makes D. Winifred Ogata ideal for use in interiorscaping. In addition, individual flowers can be used for leis. Because of the large flower size, only 45 are needed for a single lei.

The hybrid D. Caesar 4N x D. Joanne Mesina 4N was named D. Winifred Ogata and registered with the International Orchid Registrar. Seed pods of this new hybrid have been released to Dendrobium orchid growers’ associations in Hawaii.

Scape length

6.7 ± 1.3

Raceme length

15.2 ± 2.6

Flower width

3.4 ± 0.2

Flower length

2.6 ± 0.2

Petal length

2.0 ± 0.1

Petal width

1.3 ± 0.1

Dorsal sepal length

1.6 ± 0.9

Dorsal sepal width

0.6

No. flower per spray

9.8 ± 1.7

Percent bud drop

3.9 ± 5.2

Half-life of sprays on plant (days)

84.8 ± 4.6

Pseudobulb height at first flower

13.6 ± 0.3

Pseudobulb height, final

26.6 ± 4.2