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Robert, I have been fascinated reading and following your work with Lila Banks and its impressive dynasty of progeny. Many of which are quite colorful and beautiful. I love lavender. It's my favorite color, so I have been keeping tabs on everyone's projects breeding for lavender for quite a while now.
You mentioned to me in another thread that you have been working with bracteata a lot. Clinophylla too. I am very interested in those species because of their other-than-china rebloom genetics.
I want to work on three species in particular: rugosa, bracteata, and roxburghii. Clinophylla is very tender but I could find a way to use it too.
I was wondering if you had some advice and ideas, particularly regarding bracteata. I have read from many sources that it's challenging to use. Then I've also heard that it's reasonably pollen fertile.
I know that Ralph Moore was extremely proud of Muriel because it took him forever to make that cross take. I also know that it produced a lot of nice things.
I don't really know where to get it. I do know where to find Happenstance, one of the miniature sports of Mermaid, though. I have bracteata and Pink Surprise, a rugosa x bracteata cross. I might try Little Gray Pearl, as Muriel is a parent of it.
I was wondering though if you had any bract seedlings that have been particularly useful. I would love to trade for daylily species, or historic Iris, or even some rugosas. Whatever you'd like. An IOU for stuff I end up working on, whatever you like. Even if you just have bract crosses that weren't winners that you want to toss.
I've got stapeliads, cacti, succulents, orchids, lots of stuff. I bet I have something you'd like. Let me know.
Thanks!
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Jason,
This is a huge topic. I'll try to hone in on a few points and we can go from there. I'm assuming your relatively young from your screen name. I can't iterate enough the importance of starting young with some of these endeavors. They literally take decades,
If you had contacted me several years ago when I still had access to Viru's clinophylla/bracteata cross you might have been ahead of the game. They seemed to lean heavily toward clinophylla in terms of phenotype but seemingly vastly more fertile that bracteata itself,
Bracteata is a very distinctive species, quite aggressive in mild climates. A number of hybridizers have made breakthroughs in terms in getting first generation hybrids but they are relatively few and far between compared to most species. I tried using the species early on but quickly came to the realization that it's much easier to move forward building on the work of others. You may have more luck with it. I'd use it differently were I to go back and work with it again.
(Ralph Moore made repeated attempts with it for many years and only got, 'Muriel'.)
Viru shared with me some time ago that 'Pink Surprise' can offer fertility as pollen parent. That might be a place to start since you have it already. It's a beautiful rose but too large for most gardens and gardeners.
Finding a reliable seed parent that works in your climate, preferably with bracteata genetics is paramount. I have many.
Just remember, integrating no species is a panacea. We get the good with the bad and the ugly.
Send me a private message and we can go from there.
Best wishes, Robert
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