Mystery Brown

[Doll]

Charlie,
 I was hoping you might know what cultivar this is. I had this for many years before losing it last year. It was more brown in color in cooler weather. I just can't remember what it was called. It was a grafted variety.

[Charlie]

John, It has a lot of similarity to Cinnamon Girl once it fades in strong sunlight. It is sort of like Margarita but that one has a pink halo around the red eye and yours has a golden halo like Cinnamon Girl. It's not an exact match in this photo. Does that ring a bell?

Charlie

[Doll]

Honestly I can't remember. I checked some pics of Cinnamon Girl online and it is close. So it probably is. I probably purchased it somewhere around 1998-2000. Actually I may not have lost it for sure. I had it planted in the ground but last winter we had a very hard freeze down to 17. I think it died below the graft. When the new growth ever blooms I will know for sure. Thanks for your help.

I just checked the IHS site and Cinnamon Girl wasn't registered till 2008. So it probably couldn't be if I purchased it that long ago.

[Charlie]

Cinnamon Girl did not exist back then so it has to be something else. Also it is sold as a rooted plant, not grafted. Back to the drawing board. Your photo shows a greenish cast to the brown which suggests an offspring of Misfire or Topaz Glory. It is not either of those varieties although it resembles them. It does seem familiar but what I keep coming back to is Margarita which it cannot be due to the wrong color halo around the eye. I can usually recognize them but this one has me stumped.

Heck of a freeze you had last year!

Charlie

[Doll]

For some reason I am almost certain the name began with a C.  Yes last winter was the coldest winter we have had in probably 15 years. Most winters we have only light freezes.

Do you ever have Cinnamon Girl available?

[Charlie]

Cinnamon Girl is sometimes available but there is a new one with Cinnamon Girl as parent that is very similar but the flowers are larger. Not named yet but probably out next year some time. If you go on the waiting list for CG Cindy will email you the next time one is offered online.

Also, we are about to place a 2 gallon pot of Margarita in the store. It's a nice, full plant that I recently located. Here is the info and photo page for Margarita http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/margaritainfo.html

There should be a 2 gallon update only show up later today or tomorrow - Georgia's Thunder, Margarita, High Voltage, Belle du Jour, maybe a Heavy Metal, Flash Dancer, others perhaps.

Charlie

[Charlie]

I asked an experienced and knowledgeable hibiscus collector in Houston if she recognized it. Here is what she said and the photo she sent.

"Charles, it looks like Howard's Chartreuse to me. Here's a picture of the
one we grew for many years. Good bloomer."

I have never grown Howard's Chartreuse which is why I did not recognize it. Her photo looks very close to the one you posted. She did not know where to get this variety today, unfortunately.

Does it look right to you?

Charlie

[Doll]

Yes that is it. Thanks for all your effort.

[motherof4]

charlie...are the two gallons still going to be added today??...thanks..lynette

[motherof4]

nevermind....I was happy to get heavy metal....still looking for georgias thunder ...thanks

[Charlie]

There are several Georgia's Thunder but Cindy has to build a new product page since we never offered it before. Great looking plants after 2 years and lots of buds.

Charlie

[motherof4]

do you maybe know when that could be???that way i will know to watch for it :-*thanks lynette

[Charlie]

I've learned not to press my sweet wife for that kind of info, much as many of us would like to know when. ):

She did say she plans to contact you directly about it.

Charlie

[motherof4]

yes...thankyou charlie...she did

[Doll]

My Howard's Chartreuse bloomed today. It didn't die below the graft after all.

At the end of the day.