The discovery of gold in New Guinea in 1929 led to the previously uncharted interior of the country being explored by prospectors and mining companies, which in turn paved the way for enterprising botanists to follow and so the number of known species continued to increase, albeit more slowly than before.

Interest was once more shown in growing Vireyas, particularly in Australia, New Zealand and the USA and several dedicated collectors distributed seed freely to enthusiasts as well as botanic gardens, thereby firmly establishing the plants in cultivation. This rapid increase in the number of available species duly led to the production of many new hybrids, often growing with great vigor and displaying many of the desirable characteristics of both parents.

Breeding programs by both enthusiasts and specialist nurseries continue to this day and have resulted in many excellent second- and even third-generation hybrids bearing flowers of great beauty on quite compact plants, making them attractive additions to modern greenhouse and conservatory culture as well as for garden display in areas with a suitably mild climate.

The renaissance in Vireya cultivation seems set to continue for the foreseeable future, fired by a growing number of enthusiasts exchanging ideas, information and plant material around the world, and backed up by the large plant collections of several botanic institutions. Exploration of some of the more remote regions continues resulting in the introduction of species not previously seen in cultivation and occasional new species still being discovered.

Pilchuck Pollinator