Big Surprise fall leaves

[Nievesgirl]

So I got this cv thinking it was dutch windmill but it looks like Fall Leaves

[blupit007]

Kerry does it have the fascinating foliage?  Fall leaves is one of those.   It does look like it though. 

[Nievesgirl]

Fall Leaves again



This Cv is a really nice plant. The bush is fantastic especially compared to Night runner. This one is quickly becoming one of my favorites

[Charlie]

I've noticed that some of the Fascinating Foliage bushes become less extreme the older they get. The leaves tend to settle into 3 lobed leaves as Kerry's photo of Fall Leaves shows that retain 3 distinct lobes but they are less dramatically cut than the younger growth shows.

 Just yesterday I took photos of Carrot Top that show the type of leaves from newer growth and leaves from older growth. First photo shows a new branch with leaves more extreme and the second photo shows the flower and the moderate lobes of more mature wood. We're still learning about FF foliage but one thing is for sure - it does vary even on the same plant.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Interesting Charlie,

Have you also noticed that this trait becomes less pronounced with each generation of clones you make? 

I am just curious because my Pinot Noir has deeply cut three lobbed leaves and was purchased when the CV was first released in 2009.  Ive noticed that more recent clones picture of this plant have less pronounced leaves.  It would seem to me that if this is the case this mutation is unstable and after a certain number of clone generations this phenotype could be lost or more "normal" like parents CCacao and Key Lime Pie.  At anyrate it will be interesting to track this progression. 

[Nievesgirl]

That is interesting Charlie. I will take pics of all the FF I have and post them maybe we can compare them to older plants.

[Charlie]

There doesn't seem to be much of a pattern that holds up consistently. For instance, we have a Still Water right here in the kitchen that is a couple of years old and its leaves haven't changed at all - still very different from normal hibiscus. Successive generations don't seem to make any difference either with the changes I have seen being mostly in plants as they get older. But, new stems on old plants appear to have the original deeply lobed leaves. Still a lot more observation needs to be done with these over the next few years.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Very interesting Charlie, I hope others will share their experience with FF as well