First Lady

[Charlie]

First Lady has impeccable parentage and it shows. Her seed parent was Rosalind, the great cultivar from Australia that sets something of a standard for overall performance in exotic hibiscus. First Lady's pollen parent was Fantasy Charm, for years the most prolific blooming hibiscus in the 10 inch size category. Although Rosalind often dominates crosses, giving a lot of orange lookalikes, in this case the cross produced a huge dark pink double flower on an equally impressive bush.

I fooled around and sold too many First Lady plants when it first became available, and found myself with almost none left to serve as stock for more production. Over the last 2 years we remedied that and now have ample stock and a reasonable number of First Lady plants for 2009. If you haven't already, I encourage you to give her a try. First Lady grows as an upright bush capable of supporting the big double flowers, and once she is mature she blooms like both her parents - prolifically! I look forward to feedback from others in the next year or two to see how she is doing elsewhere.

Charlie

[roadrunner]

First Lady is also a recent purchase from July of 2008 (4" size). The first bloom (late November 2008) was actually very disappointing. It took several days to open and then only opened partially and the form was very poor. However, every bloom since has been absolutely stunning, we actually you could say spectacular. They are just under 8 inches across on average and fully double (massive), have great consistent form, and have been lasting 4 days on average. Currently growing inside the house in a 1 gallon pot in a south facing picture window. This is one of several that I'm sure will need to be moved up a pot size this spring.

Dave

[roadrunner]

First Lady is growing very well for me but I'm having touble with bud drop as I mentioned in the post on Living Legend. I think it's getting a little too dry between waterings. It did get this one nice bloom which lasted 2 days.

Dave

[roadrunner]

Here's a full view growing in a 10 inch pot. You are right, these massive blooms are supported well.

Dave

[Charlie]

Very nice photos, Dave! I'm glad you've seen some good blooms of this cv which can be very impressive.

You mention bud drop. I don't tolerate it myself nor wait to confirm the problem as heat or blame it on the cv. No doubt sometimes it is just heat or as in the case of some doubles it is a trait of the variety. However, in my experience it is far more often thrips and they can be easily gotten rid of. I spray spinosad as soon as I see any bud drop and more often than not am rewarded with lots of blooms in the weeks just after. Thrips are hard to see and it is easy to spray this low toxicity organic pesticide over the buds and tops of the stems. Do it more than once - 3 times with 5 days between each is ideal - and say good-bye to most bud drop. (The Gulf Coast states also have to contend with hibiscus gall midge but the symptoms and treatment are different - small buds turn bright yellow and drop).

The Greenlight company makes a version of spinosad that fits on the end of a hose and is good for those with a lot of outdoor hibiscus and also a concentrate that you mix yourself into your own sprayer. Get it and give it a go is my suggestion!

More details are at: http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/spinosadinfo.html

Charlie

[Doll]

I had my first bloom on First Lady today. It was very impressive for a first bloom. I usually shy away from doubles but I'm glad I took a chance on First Lady.