Hibiscus: Ohio White Star 2013, 0 by Michael_Ronayne

Michael_Ronayne wrote:
Alday

When you say Texas Star are you talking about Hibiscus coccineus (AKA: Texas Red Star), a photograph of which is attached? If it is something else please let me know. H. coccineus is categorized as a Group II North American native while Hibiscus Ohio While Star is a member of Group I. The two groups are not supposed to hybridize easily but I appear to have growing pods where H. Ohio While Star is the pod parent and H. coccineus is the pollen parent. Usually with an Inter Group hybrid, the F1 progeny carry a genetic lethal and die. The production of our hardy reds requires two stage hybridization between (H. coccineus x H. militaris) x H. moscheutos.

Having said all that, I have been able to initiate seed development twice now with a cross between H. Ohio While Star x H. coccineus. If the seeds grow to maturity, I will be able to run accelerated germination tests on the F1 hybrids.

The real problem is that for the next several years, H. Ohio While Star will not breed true and we are going to have to propagate it by cloning root-divisions or stem cuttings. I will have to talk to Kathy about our options. I am still working on the full report but want to make sure that the hybrids seeds from three different crosses are maturing. The good news is that we should have seeds from two and possibility three crosses to play with next year.

Mike