Burnt Saffron

[Darkhorse]

I GOT A BURNT SAFFRON!!!!!!!!   





Now that that's out of my system, how is this one to take care of Charlie?

[Charlie]

Burnt Saffron - not for beginners! Fortunately, you are no longer new to hibiscus and should be able to do well with it. It is slow to branch and fairly slow growing over all, so if you make a mistake with it all the leaves can be gone quickly and it will be slow coming back. However, if it does not get stressed it does just fine and blooms pretty well for not having many branches.

I am making a more intense effort this year to ship as many plants as possible with multiple branches already started. It is easiest when they are very small to induce branching by pinching the growing tips and I'm trying to be sure even the 4 inch all have multiple branches to start with. A growth enhancer like Super Nova also helps encourage branching when the plants are young.

I'm think you will enjoy the unusual colors of 'Burnt Saffron'. The available ones are all grafted plants, by the way. Might grow more vigorously that way, which we will see by and by.

Update as of August, 2010. The above was based on the behavior of the original seedling plant and the early growth of some grafted plants of Burnt Saffron. Later the rooted plants of it also were potted up and both types grew a lot more vigorously than the original seedling did. We are seeing photos of bushes of this one posted by people in the Hibiscus Photo of the Day thread that show very nice, multi-branched, upright bushes in the first summer of growth which is very encouraging. Outside of Black Dragon, one of the parents of Burnt Saffron, the blackening of the main color shows most prominently on Burnt Saffron compared to other Black Dragon offspring we have grown, such as Black Dream. We're still learning about all these but so far Burnt Saffron is doing quite well and is close to becoming "highly recommended".

Charlie

No photos of Burnt Saffron have been posted to this thread but anyone wanting to see an assortment of them should go to Hibiscus Photos of the Day and then fill in the search field with Burnt Saffron. That will pull up a list of messages that have photos of Burnt Saffron.

[helixturnhelix]

I do love a Challenge  Black Dragon and DB are supposed to be a bit tricky as well, but I honestly havent had any issues at all with them.  I think that as long as you just keep doing what you are doing they will do great!  I think they just might be less forgiving under less than ideal conditions.  

It also seems that this CV has a growth habit that is less than ideal for propagation, so it sounds like it will be a bit harder to come around than others.

[Darkhorse]

I'm excited/nervous.  This will be my first cv that is a little more challenging (as far as I know).  I lost so many last year, but hopefully not without learning some things!

Does Burnt Saffron seem to favor partial shade and relatively cooler temps like Black Dragon/Dragon's Breath?

[helixturnhelix]

I think now that you have your spidermite regime worked out, you will be fine!  How many of your CVs made it though the infestation!? LOL

[Darkhorse]

Oh Chris it was bad... I'm probably 1 for 5 or even 1 for 6 right now.  The problem is that all or most of the leaves would fall off and the plant would start to rot, despite the wake-up spray or growth enhancer.  This actually happened to a couple of my plants after the mites went away.  I'm thinking the two I lost after I saw no more signs of mites was due to my move; going from almost full sun to almost no direct sun at all quite suddenly.

Crossing my fingers for a better year this year!

[helixturnhelix]

Im sure it will be:) We will have to compare experiences with Burnt Saffron

[Darkhorse]

Sure, Chris.  How's your Black Dragon doing these days?  Another cv on my wishlist.

[helixturnhelix]

Oh my BD had a terrible set back.  I kinda didnt have anyone water my plants when I went on vacation for two weeks.  I thought they would be fine as it was winter.  BD was a huge plant in a 6' pot and it dried out more than any other CV and I came back to a plant with dry leaves.  I cut it way back and gave it supernova.  This week I have seen tons of new buds forming, so I think it will be ok.  I guess that is testiment to if BD is happy and its needs met, it is pretty hardy.  Mine survived 2 weeks of no water, in a sunny spot that got 2-4 hours of full sun.  When it was doing well, it grew very fast and bloomed alot.  It might not have the best bush for the ground, but I like all the lateral branches it makes for a potted plant.  The flowers were always presented upright and that is the main thing I dont like with bad bushes.  If you cannot see the flower!  I think there are some CVs that make nice potted plants even if their bushes are less than ideal for the garden, and I think that BD fits this   If you get it Jordan, you will not be disappointed.

[Nievesgirl]

I agree with chris my BD is doing SUPER well under my t5's. The mites have not made BD unhappy yet.  I have been dunking it and it continues to do well for me. I can't wait to get it in real sunlight it will probably do excellent on my balcony since BD seems to like some shade.

[Darkhorse]

Oh bummer Chris!  Well, good to know it can at least come back from a setback like that.  It almost seems like now that my plants are indoors and it's winter, I only have to water them every two weeks or so.  Glad to hear things are looking up for yours though.




Kerry your plants looked amazing under those lights.  Have you gotten any blooms lately?

[Nievesgirl]

Kerry your plants looked amazing under those lights.  Have you gotten any blooms lately?

yes I have gotten some blooms. I would probably get more blooms if I change the bulbs they are old hahah and i have not been fertilizing like I should. Today Creme de cacao is blooming

[Darkhorse]

I wanted to update you on my Burnt Saffron, Charlie.  I potted it up a couple of weeks ago and it's growing very vigorously!  It's showing much more growth than I expected, and looks very healthy.  It it on my shade porch that gets about 4 hours of morning sun. 

[Charlie]

Jordan, that's good to hear. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the 4 inch pots of Burnt Saffron grew this year. I did both grafted and rooted versions of it and both types grew very well. The original seedling was not all that vigorous so I was concerned but have learned with experience that the seedling plants often grow differently than the clones.

The few older plants of it in the greenhouse started blooming steadily about a month ago and have put out some wonderful flowers with great color. I bet your plant will start blooming as soon as it warms up in your area.

Charlie
 

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Charlie,

I just wanted to let you know how great Burnt Saffron is doing.  Mine is almost three feet tall and has six branches growing on it!  The longest branch has buds, so I hope to have some pics to share.  Pretty amazing since I only got it three months ago! Do you know if it sets seed yet? 

[Charlie]

Chris, I'm super glad to hear this. The first plant of it grown from seed did not grow all that great. However, the cutting grown plants have done much better and those that shipped this spring looked very good I thought.

I have not tried to set seed with it yet. The wood is too precious still and is all used for making new plants. I have dusted some pollen from it and am waiting to see what happens with that. I was able to compare it side by side with Black Dream this summer and Cindy and I both agree that usually Burnt Saffron has the best color of the two while Black Dream has the better flower form. Both are quite nice and are the main 2 offspring of Black Dragon that have shown the blackening/darkening trait so far.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Charlie that is really great to hear that your cuttings have also done well.  I was kinda afraid that it was a mismatched plant because its been growing so rapidly and has such a nice bush.  This was a 4 incher shipped at the end of may I think,  all I can say is WOW

[Charlie]

Yep, that looks like Burnt Saffron. Excellent growth so far!

Charlie