Natural seed pod.

[davidwood]

Charlie am I right in thinking that you once said that you have never seen a  natural cross. The thing is it has happened to me now for the second time, the first one was on Cosmic Gold and I never even noticed till I knocked it off, and this morning I have just seen a big pod on Cranberry Muffin.
Strange thing is I did try to do some crosses last year and I never got a pod as big as this, they all fell off.

[Maureenpm00]

HI David - this is interesting. I can't wait to hear what the expert has to say about this. 
I wonder if the species ones make natural crosses more than hybrids?

[Charlie]

David, what I meant is that I have never seen a naturally occurring pod that contained viable seeds. You will find lots of empty pods. With some experience you can usually tell an empty one from one that is plump with seeds.

That said, hybrid hibiscus are all descended from hibiscus species that were naturally pollinated in the wild and did produce seed pods with seeds. I found it very surprising that when we have a lot of flowering hibiscus all close together that we do not get a profusion of naturally pollinated seedpods. I'm sure it does happen on rare occasion but it is so rare that you have to think that the natural pollinator - whether some sort of insect, bird, or bat - is no longer living near where we are growing hibiscus these days. That seems likely, since for example the island of Mauritius where at least 2 of the hibiscus species are found naturally growing, has lost a great many of its endemic species to destruction of habitat over the centuries since it was discovered.

Charlie

[Maureenpm00]

Thanks for that information Charlie. I'm trying to learn as much as i can.

I have a question - What are the chances of getting viable seed with a chance of a nice seedling from a seed which is the same pollen/pod parents?


I just pollinated AG X Saffron today.  They are both blooming in my house today. I brought all my plants in a few nights ago as it's getting cold.  It's actually snowing out today...Yikes that's scaring me....i hate the cold winter weather....

[Charlie]

Maureen, chances are low but possible.

The other variable to keep in mind is that some varieties set seed well and others either do not set seed or do so only when conditions are perfect for it. The cross you made will work well if pollen from Acapulco Gold is placed on Saffron but is not likely to work done with Saffron pollen placed on Acapulco Gold. That is because Saffron sets seeds readily but Acapulco Gold does not.

Charlie

[Maureenpm00]

HI Charlie - thanks for explaining this to me.  I will be sure to put the pollen on Saffron next time.

I have a bunch of seed pods on Peach Train (PT X Voodoo magic).  This combo produced seed pods every time i did it. 

I just wish I liked the colors of Voodoo magic more - the bush i have right now in my living room has 19 buds on it.  What a fabulous brush and profuse bloomer.  I must have gotten 100 blooms in August from this CV.