Phalaenopsis Journal First Quarter Vol. 21(3) 2012 | Page 13

Hebert Hager Award 2010
Wesley Higgins
T
he Herbert Hager Award was established in the
spring of 1992 by members of the International
Phalaenopsis Alliance and the friends of Herbert
Hager. It recognizes the accomplishments of the
late Herb Hager, his lifelong dedication to the advance-
ment of orchids, especially to Phalaenopsis, through pio-
neering hybridizing and superior culture. In October 2011,
the American Orchid Society granted the 2010 Herbert
Hager Award to Chian Xen Biotechnology, Inc. for Dori-
taenopsis Chian Xen Piano ‘CX339’ FCC 93/AOS in San
Antonio, Texas.
Doritaenopsis Chian Xen Piano ‘CX339’ is a cross of Dtps.
Jiuhbao Victoria x Dtps. Chian Xen Mammon that was
originally awarded at Taiwan International Orchid Show
on March 4, 2010. The AOS description reads, “Thirty-one
perfectly formed, stupen-
dously marked harlequin
flowers displayed dramati-
cally on two cascaded, 42-
cm, branched inflorescenc-
es; sepals and petals crisp
white, heavy, bold, broad
rich purple stripes, centers
largely white, picotee soft
purple; lip white, lavender
distally; substance firm; tex-
ture crystalline.” The cross
was made by Mr. Huang
Fu-Liang in 2008 who has
been breeding Doritaenop-
sis since 1980. Huang Jian-
Ming is the manager of Chi-
an Xen Biotechnology Inc.,
which breeds and grows
moth orchids. The company
was founded by Huang’s fa-
ther and the younger Huang
still recalls when his father
first started growing moth
orchids three decades ago.
“They had this group of
people who met every few
Phalaenopsis - First Quarter, Vol. 21(3) 2012
days to share opinions on varieties, techniques and every-
thing about the orchid,” Huang says. “There wasn’t any re-
ward when someone developed a unique variety except for
the praise and envy of other members, which apparently
was enough to keep them obsessed.” Huang’s father is still
in charge of breeding new varieties at Chian Xen, and one
of his varieties won the gold medal in the moth orchid cat-
egory at the 2010 Taiwan International Orchid Show held
in Tainan County, southern Taiwan. “There seems to be a
gene chart the older generation of breeders keeps in their
heads,” Huang says. “Just by looking at the ‘parents,’ they
can pretty much know what kind of ‘children’ there will
be.” 1
1
“Orchids Blossom into Big Business”, Jim Hwang, Taiwan Review,
10/01/2010, http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw
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