BEAHM GARDENS 
THOUGHTS ON COLORS IN EPIPHYLLUMS 
YELLOW S—this is another confusing point 
—solid clear yellow, as far as we are con- 
cerned, does not exist in epiphyllums. So-called 
yellows are always basically white or pale 
cream in the centerstripe and throat of the 
flower. The unopened bud may be intensely 
yellow. The open flower may have strong yel- 
low tips, the yellow extending prominently 
down edges of petals but that still is NOT A 
YELLOW flower. It must be remembered also 
that light exposure is a very important factor 
in intensifying the yellow tones. Buds flower- 
ing on the shady side of a plant will often be 
COLOR 
We have set up the following groups to 
help classify these flowers as to color. This is 
difficult because of the wide range of color 
combinations. Some flowers have more than 
one outstanding color. Nearly all of them 
contain a small amount of contrasting tint or 
shading of self-color and therefore might be 
placed in more than one group. Distinction 
between tints and shades is a matter of per- 
sonal understanding. Even the flowers them- 
selves are of deeper tones at certain stages. We 
use the Horticultural Colour Chart issued by 
the British Colour Council (available at $12.50) 
in describing our epiphyllums. 
GROUP I 
Listed on page 5 
WHITES, CREAMS, and some enhanced 
with yellow. Sepals will usually carry a dif- 
ferent color such as green, yellow, tan or rose. 
GROUP II 
Listed on page 7 
LIGHTEST SOFT TONES OF PINK—rose- 
pink, salmon-pink, lavender-pink, some one- 
toned, some in combination. 
GROUP III 
Listed on page 9 
DEEPER PINKS, LAVENDER-PINK, ROSE- 
PINK. Often with other contrasting colors. 
GROUP IV 
Listed on page 11 
ORANGE, AMBER, COPPER and AUTUMN 
SHADES. Often with violet or purple in 
center or along edges. 
GROUP V 
Listed on page 13 
ONE-TONED REDS,  vermilion, 
maroon. 
scarlet, 
very much lighter than those buds facing the 
sun. 
The evasive BLUE—(True Blue)—is also 
still missing. What one sees in the heart of an 
epiphyllum is an iridescent sparkle as noted in 
electricity or a fuchsine or magenta-purple 
tone. 
COLOR GROUPING poses another prob- 
lem—no two people see colors alike—thus in 
our Group II and Group III it sometimes 
happens that an epiphyllum one might say be- 
longed in Group II, another might insist be- 
longed in Group III. 
GROUPS 
GROUP VI 
Listed on page 14 
REDS of all sorts but combined with various 
other colors. 
GROUP VII 
Listed on page 17 
Sometimes colors are blended in such a way 
as to make description and classification diff- 
cult. These we are grouping here. 
GROUP VIII 
Listed on page 19 
PURPLES and ORCHIDS. All tones from 
light to dark. 
HEUREKA 
