Cherry Glow

[Doll]

Charlie, will Cherry Glow be available in the 6 inch size later this year? It looks like a red version of Saffron. Really beautiful!

[Charlie]

Yes, we just planted some Cherry Glo into 6 inch pots (1 gallon this year though we still call them 6 inch) and they will be available by summer. Can't wait to see how the blooms again!

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

I broke down and got a 4 inch of this one, so beautiful.  Do you have any other remarks on the bloom and bush?  I also heard through the grapevine that seedlings often get their bush traits from the pod parent and more of the flower color and shape come from the father.  Around 50% was the value I was given, interesting if you observe something similar  

[Charlie]

Chris! As a biologist, what are the chances that this bit of hibiscus lore is correct?

The problem with opinions that float around is that they are often based on too small a sample size to be meaningful. Even if someone's first dozen crosses follow this "rule" it does not mean that out of 1000 crosses the "rule" will hold up. In my experience, it doesn't.

Take the Creme de Cacao babies, for instance. They are one of the easiest to evaluate since the leaf form is unique and the flower color uncommon. As you probably know, offspring of CCacao as pod parent show both traditional and lobed leaf forms and I've had quite a few that also showed various brownish, golden green flower color, same as Creme de Cacao. Yet, I've also had reds, oranges, yellows, and blues from CCacao. In other words, do enough crosses and you will find pod and pollen influences showing up randomly, from either parent.

I'll be able to show you more of Cherry Glow in the next couple of months. Glad you gave it a try!

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

LoL most likely it is not true, since genes usually assort independently, regardless of parent.  What is interesting is how sometimes genes or sets of traits are linked up and are more often inherited as a complete "packages"  I think that when you get to sample sizes as large are yours, you begin to see the true pattern of inheritance.  Your experience with CCacao is really interesting, getting all sorts of color combination, when blues and browns, "give only blues and browns"  I think that with your record keeping, after a few years of data, we can start to piece together more of this mystery.  When looking at primary hybrids there are sometimes two distinct groups of offspring, but with hybrid hibiscus have such a muddy ancestrial past, it is unlikely that this is true.     

Cherry Glow is just so striking, I couldnt say no to it. I had to go back and see what the heck ive been ordering this year, looks like I was in a red and white mood this year, with Cherry Glow, Painted Pony, Corazon, and Princess K, with all looking beautiful and unique to me.  I cant wait to take a pic with all of them blooming together, hopefully Papa Cherry Appaloosa (which has grown maybe three inches in 4 months) with the kids,

I am looking forward to seeing more pics of your CG this summer      

[Charlie]

That's an interesting thought for the future, Chris. Using the incomplete but still substantial records collected over the last 60 years and adding in the databases that a few of the more prolific hybridizers have kept more recently, we might gain some new insights into hibiscus. Might even spot some of those "sets of traits" you described. Analyzing bush qualities will be the hardest part, since existing records don't provide many details.

When we started selling to garden centers 15 years ago we were told "no reds", people have had reds forever and want to try some different colors. But that sentiment has changed over time - red is classic and reds and red and whites have come a long way in recent years.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

The Red and White combo is one of my favorite color combinations, those garden centers don't know what the customers want.  You compare HOMH with Brilliant, HOMH it will beat it for color and form.   Interesting how different it is developing varieties for commercial, verses more of a "specialty" market.   

[Doll]

Charlie, how are those 1 gallon Cherry Glow coming along?