Arabian Princess

[helixturnhelix]

Hey Charlie,

Would you say this is an improvement over Key Largo?  The flowers are similar, but I'm betting AP makes a nicer bush?  I am hoping there will be a few more of these available in the near future

[Charlie]

Yes, for sure Arabian Princess grows into a nicer bush than Key Largo. The colors are similar although AP flowers are larger. Key Largo has quite distinctive colors that people seem to like. There has always been a demand for Key Largo despite the bush that does not branch well and often wants to grow horizontally rather than upward.

Arabian Princess is still very new and in short supply. Yesterday one person ordered 5 of them, somewhat to our dismay. We're talking about limiting orders on new varieties so they can be spread around more but haven't decided how to do it. There are times when a project needs multiples of the same variety and we don't want to make it hard to do that but otoh there are limited supplies of the newer varieties.

More about Arabian Princess http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/arabianprincess.htm

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Ahh well thats too bad that they were gone so quick!  I think key largo is interesting, but I really want to get a variety that has those three lobes   I guess African Princess is another one that has that cool leaf type.  I guess patience will have to persevere

[Charlie]

Sorry about that, Chris.

I'm thinking we need a new category name for hibiscus with this type of unusual leaf. Then group the plants of it on one page in the store so it is clear which they are. I have spotted a couple more seedlings that so far keep these leaves even after they start blooming. The final test is propagating them from cuttings - if the 6 inch pots grow up and start blooming and still have the leaves it is pretty certain that this is a permanent feature.

The next newsletter will have an article showing some of the wild leaves that hibiscus seedlings can have while still juvenile. Any idea why they would do this, and then change at maturity?

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

I like that idea of leaf type category.

It will be really interesting to read and see new pictures of the other varieties with this interesting leaf type.  I am going to look more into why you are seeing this new phenotype more often

[Charlie]

These leaf forms are not new, really, since many seedling plants show them before they reach maturity and rarely show them after first bloom. What is new is finding more varieties that continue to show these leaves long after first flower and also in their clones. We now have 4 new varieties of them - Wine Spritzer, Pinot Noir, African Princess, and Arabian Princess. Key Lime Pie and its offspring Creme de Cacao also show these different leaf forms. And not surprisingly, all 4 of the new ones are offspring of Creme de Cacao.

What I was wondering about is why do so many seedlings have these very different leaf forms in the first place? Why do they grow certain types of leaves until they mature and then change to a different leaf form at maturity. Is this true for many species?

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Hmm its entirely possible that these young leaves that are very lobed have a biological purpose.  All plants have cotyledon, which are the leaves present in the seed coat, so it wouldn't be surprising that some plants develop different leaves while young vs old.  Those pics in the newsletter were really something to see!  There is so much variation in form and color in the seedlings, its really amazing that we don't see more variation in adult plants.

There are some tree species that change from a juvenile leaf form to a different one when they mature.  The Hawaiian Koa tree is one that does this.  Plants also change leaf shape based on environmental conditions.  With aquatic plants the emersed vs submerged leaves can be VERY different.  So much so that they look like different species.  Perhaps environmental conditions play a role?  Its really interesting and I really don't have a good answer as to why.