Citadel Delta

CITADEL DELTA 

(Carla × Leland Delta) × Ralph Lynam

Citadel is one of those crosses that I believe people may underestimate at first.

The mother, Carla × Leland Delta, is an exceptionally beautiful plant with enormous breeding potential. To me, it isn’t finished where it is and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting as a breeding plant. It carries traits that breeders should be looking for: exceptionally dark, almost blue-black foliage, bright pronounced venation, a beautiful sinus, and tremendous potential for contrast.

Take those genetics and cross them into something with heavier venation, and I think you have the potential to produce some incredible, highly contrasted offspring.

Then there is Ralph Lynam.

The history surrounding RL has always been somewhat covered in smoke and mirrors. The story I received directly from Fred Muller differs considerably from the history told by Jay Vannini, so I don’t pretend to have the definitive answer. Provenance matters to me, and when the historical record isn’t completely clear, I think it’s important to say so.

What isn’t difficult to see is the plant itself.

Ralph Lynam is one of the most exceptional papillilaminums out there. Deep, dark foliage. An elongated body. Beautiful proportions. And that sinus deep, dramatic, and nearly perfect.

Putting those genetics against Carla × Leland Delta created Citadel.

And the seedlings are already surprising me.

They’re coming out with these mutated, exaggerated, extra long forms that I wasn’t expecting from the cross. It’s a trait I didn’t specifically breed for, but I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. They look different already, and they’re still incredibly young.

That’s what makes me think these could be sleeper seedlings.

They may not be the seedlings everyone immediately recognizes for what they are. But I believe some of these are going to mature into absolutely wild plants. I’m already in love with their juvenile form, and they haven’t even begun developing the deep black-blue coloration that makes their parents so special.

I have a feeling I’m going to start getting tagged in these on Instagram very soon.

The history of Leland Delta itself is also somewhat murky, but regardless of the unanswered questions surrounding its history, it is an extraordinary Delta-form plant. Combined with Carla and Ralph Lynam, there are genetics here representing several important pieces of Anthurium breeding history.

That’s where the name Citadel came from.

A citadel is built around strength and structure something supported by its foundations. I chose the name because this cross is built from genetic pillars that have played a part in shaping our community.

(Carla x Leland Delt) X Ralph Lynam.

There is history behind each of them. Some of that history is well documented, and some of it is still debated.

Now their genetics get to tell the next part of the story.

CITADEL DELTA
(Carla × Leland Delta) × Ralph Lynam

 Anthurium Story