I'm pretty excited about this one, because it's something I wanted for a long time and I finally got it. Yay!! Startler is Redstart x Masked Light, and was registered by Ratcliffe in 1962. It was awarded in the US before being awarded in England, winning an 82 pt AM/AOS in 1968 for Kensington Orchids, then in 1969 85 and 86 pt AMs/AOS for Kensington Orchids, where I got my very first paph ever. In 1970 it won an AM/RHS, which was a bumper crop year for Ratcliffe paphs, including Chianti 'Chilton', a fine green, and Honey Plume 'Halo' FCC/RHS, a spectacular yellow, which went on to win the George Moore Medal in 1970.
Startler 'Glace' is remarkably similar to Orchilla 'Chilton', and has one the same parents, Redstart 'Chilton' (not Redstart 'Exbury' FCC/RHS, which is sterile). There are, however, several nice clones of Startler, including 'Sanfoin' and 'Lacquer', which were awarded in the US but not in England. I'm not sure if these exist anymore - they are not in the collection of Ratcliffe's, and I don't know if they were otherwise preserved in the US, but I've never seen them.
Unfortunately, like Orchilla, although hopes remain high for it as a parent, Startler has been mostly a bust. There are a few awarded first generation progeny, but nothing beyond that - another breeding dead end. I hope to have them both in flower at the same time (maybe next year) so I can share a comparison shot...
Startler 'Glace' is remarkably similar to Orchilla 'Chilton', and has one the same parents, Redstart 'Chilton' (not Redstart 'Exbury' FCC/RHS, which is sterile). There are, however, several nice clones of Startler, including 'Sanfoin' and 'Lacquer', which were awarded in the US but not in England. I'm not sure if these exist anymore - they are not in the collection of Ratcliffe's, and I don't know if they were otherwise preserved in the US, but I've never seen them.
Unfortunately, like Orchilla, although hopes remain high for it as a parent, Startler has been mostly a bust. There are a few awarded first generation progeny, but nothing beyond that - another breeding dead end. I hope to have them both in flower at the same time (maybe next year) so I can share a comparison shot...