New candidate for this month is a Phragmipedium Millbrook (Phrag. Nicholle Tower x Phrag. besseae).

Phragmipedium Millbrook has been originated and registered by Eric Young Orchid Foundation (EYOF) in 2005.

Our candidate has three species in the background: Phrag. besseae - 50%; Phrag. dalessandroi - 25%; Phrag. longifolium - 25%.

Previous Awards:

There are 6 AOS awards for Phrag. Millbrook. Recent award was granted in Feb 8, 2025 for cultivar 'Red Hawk' AM/AOS 82 pts.

There are 5 AOS awards for Phrag. Nicholle Tower.

There are 145 AOS awards for Phrag. besseae, including form flavum. 

Description:

Our candidate has 3 flowers and 3 buds on one branched 38-cm inflorescence. Plant has one mature flowering growth and one previously flowered growth. Plant is 55-cm wide and 10-cm tall. 

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 11.0 cm;                   NS V - 7.5 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 2.2 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 4.0 cm;

Petal W - 2.3 cm;               Petals L - 5.6 cm;

Lat/Synsepal W - 3.0 cm; Lat/Synsepal L - 3.6 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 2.2 cm;      Lip/Pouch L - 3.5 cm.

Judges' Comments

Kris Mason (Accredited Judge, Cincinnati Judging Center)

Three stunning flowers nicely spaced on the inflorescence; I really love the yellow at the base of the sepals and petals, the bright yellow on the pouch, color of the staminode and especially the contrast of the yellow on the synsepal that is wide enough to frame the pouch; it is a harmonious and striking color pattern with really nice form. Overall size of flowers is decent, but not exceptional, however width of dorsal and petals is less than many of the awarded clones.  I scored this at AM 86.

Ronald J. Midgett (Senior Judge, Rocky Mountain Judging Center)

Over the years I have seen a number of Phrag. bessae and its hybrids. In our candidate plant, there are three things that stood out. They are presentation, color, and form. The flowers looked identical in terms of form and color. I could find no difference between them for these qualities. The color was uniform from flower to flower and was extremely pleasing. The presentation was excellent with the flowers having very flat petals and sepals. The pouch was in proportion with the rest of the flower. The segments were a little smaller in our candidate plant when compared to other cultivars awarded with only 1 or 2 flowers. However, not enough to be a problem. Size is only 10 points.

I would consider it deserving an AM/AOS of 84 points.

Joe Bryson (Accredited Judge, Florida North-Central Judging Center)

Overall, I think this is somewhat better than previous awards. Color is outstanding, size is comparable to some awards and larger than others. Most of the awarded Millbrooks have petals that droop somewhat and these are held out horizontally, but slightly reflex at the apical margins. The most recent has a Dorsal Sepal that cups slightly, as does this one as well.  Bilateral symmetry over all the flowers is very good and flower consistency is there. Looking at the photos, I would give this a medium AM score (85-86).

Joe

Paul Wetter (Senior Judge, West Palm Beach Judging Center)

Thank you for showing this very striking Phragmipedium Millbrook.  The plant is well grown and groomed, presenting a striking example of this cross. Based on the form, color and presentation with measurements as would be expected.  I would nominate this plant for judging and expect it to receive a mid AM around 85-86. This goes along with recent awards of similar crosses and further exemplifies the strengths of Phrag. besseae hybrids. Very interested in what other judges think about this trend.

Best regards

Paul

Jay Balchan (Student Judge, Alamo Judging Center)

Again, a beautiful plant presented for virtual judging.  The grower should be very proud of this.  I wish we could grow besseae hybrids here in central Texas, but the heat just takes them away after a while, even when mixed with longifolium. 

The flowers are beautiful.  The lowest flower has a bit of reflex on the right petal and the middle flower looks to have some spotting in the color, so the top flower is the one to consider for judging. I would use the general scorecard so the inflorescence and floriferousness can be considered. 

Going in point order, the shape is very pleasing and balanced. The prior awards seem to have more of the dalessandroi "downswept petal" influence than this plant does and I find this plant to be more pleasing in that respect with its outwept petals.  The petals are very nicely balanced and full.  There is a slight tilt and pinch to the dorsals and looks like (maybe?) a slight flat spot on the left side of the pouch (but very hard to tell from the pictures). But all of these are very minor. It is hard to get away from a little pinch when longifolium is in the near background.   

The color is very pleasing and uniform on the judged flower.  It looks great in the sun.  It's hard (unfair?) to compare colors from a flower in the sun vs the award pictures, but it compares very favorably to the two recent AM's with the exception that the synsepal is not as richly colored but still a very pleasing gold. 

Both the inflorescence and the floriferousness are outstanding and exceed the recent 3 AM's, two of which only had 1 open flower. 

The overall size exceeds 2 of the prior 3 AM's and is on par with the 3rd one of 84pts.  We will assume the substance is on par with the awarded plants. 

So overall, comparing this plant to prior recent (last 10 years) awards, the shape is as good or better IMO even with the slight tilts and pinch because I do not prefer the downswept petals.  The color is on par with the AM's.. perhaps a point lower with the gold only synsepal.  The inflorescence and flower counts (20 pts) exceed all prior awards and the size is on par with the 84pt AM awarded last year.

Based on all that, my scorecard would give this a mid to high AM.... say 85-87 points.  

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Six flowers and buds nicely arranged on one strong, branched inflorescence; size, form, color and floriferousness as good or better than prior awards ranging from 79 to 84 points; should qualify for mid AM; a few more years of continued 

good culture should produce CCM or higher.

Tom Mirenda (Accredited Judge, Hawaii Judging Center)

A delightful step forward in Phrag. breeding, This hybrid seems to combine the good features of the 3 parents quite well.

• Phrag. besseae has awesome coloration but generally only one flower per spike and what I personally consider to be a 'delicate' constitution.

• Phrag. dalessandroi branches and can hold multiple flowers at once even though form is generally lacking and orangy coloration while brilliant, is arguably less desirable than a true red

• Phrag. longifolium is a large and almost weedy plant, easy to grow and bloom, even if the flowers themselves are not great in terms of color and form

In this hybrid, we have a well-presented branching multifloral spike of reasonably well-formed flowers with a very attractive coloration. While the cross has been previously awarded, I think this clone displays excellence and I would grant it a low AM of 82 points.

Mike Arwari (Student Judge, Pacific South Judging Center)

This cultivar was last awarded in February, 2025, with an AM/AOS of 82 points.

The measurements of this plant compare favorably to the awarded plant

This is a well grown, healthy plant! The flower color is deep, rich and pleasing to the eye. The contrast of the yellow around the column to the deep red/maroon of the petals and sepals makes it attractive. The petals and sepals are flat and symmetrical.

I think this plant has the potential to be more floriferous. Can this happen as it matures? 

I would give this plant 82 points for an AM/AOS award and would love to see it as it matures.

Mike Arwari

Student Judge, Pacific South

Chris Satch (NYC Plant Doctor, nycplantdoctor.com, @botanictonic on Instagram)

 These flowers are nicely presented on a well-grown plant. I do enjoy the curvature of the flower which isn't too heavy. The splay of the flowers works well and it's obvious that the award winning qualities of the parents shine through. Great plant

Best, 

Chris Satch

Exhibitor - Longwood Gardens, PA

Virtual Award Description

Three majestic flowers and three buds on one branched, staked 38-cm inflorescence on a 55-cm wide by 10-cm tall plant; sepals and petals finely hirsute; dorsal sepal elliptic, pinched apically, yellow, overlaid orange-red, peach proximally, veined slightly darker red-orange; synsepal ovate; slightly pinched apically, cupped under pouch, peach, reverse pale orange; petals lanceolate, yellow, overlaid vibrant red-orange, peach basally, slight flare centrally along midline; pouch ovoid, peach-orange, lightly veined darker orange, rim waxy, gold yellow; staminode rhomboid, gold yellow, overlaid light orange centrally; substance medium; texture velvety.