Vanity OGR

[jimtx]

One of the cuttings I picked up at the Rose Rustlers Exchange was from Vanity ... which a catalog says is a "Hybrid Musk" ...

does the fact that it is hybrid .... mean it will/won't grow on it's on roots ... how do I know what cuttings will produce true to the parent?

Jim

[Ann B.]

Jim,

Excellent QUESTION!

A hybrid is a cross pollination of two plants that are genetically different. In other words, if you take the pollen from a Mrs. BR Cant and use it to pollinate 'The Fairy', you will have a hybrid with a 'father', the Mrs. BR Cant, and a mother (producing the seed), 'The Fairy'.

Stem cuttings are nearly always clones of the parents regardless of whether they are grafted. The reason some plants are grafted is that their own roots are not hardy enough to withstand our normal conditions, so they graft them (various methods) onto hardy root stock.

The exceptions of the cuttings being clones are few, and examples include a variegated Mother-In-Laws tongue which will revert back to non-variegated, and a thornless dewberry will will revert to a thorned variety.

Old roses were not grafted, and grow on their own roots. Some hybrids created by cross pollination simply do not have strong enough roots to withstand our varying temperatures and soils. Others will do fine, even on their own roots, thereby becoming hardy hybrids.

It gets complicated, but if you stop and think about what plant growers are trying to accomplish, you will understand why some are grafted. Ie., it enables us to grow things in our environment that would not otherwise be possible.

Hybridizing is FUN! But you will only be successful if the offspring is healthy enough to withstand many conditions. If not, it will need to be grafted or cloned by tissue culture which a topic most homeowners and small nursery people will not usually attempt.

Gee, Jim! You are learning way too Fast! Don't forget to stop once in a while and SMELL the ROSES!

Tis' FUN, isn't it?

[jimtx]

Hey ...u started this interest of mine ..... I just happen to "really like it" ... garage is now ready for stuff wintering there ... cell packs are ready for starting seeds .... and I do smell the roses .. that is why I know what I want to "smell".

Oh yeah .... my "baby" hibiscus are all flowering ... 2 pale yellow .. and one red ..... really enjoyed seeing them flower ... and just a few months ago .. black seeds .. amazing ...

Have a lot of friends who are waiting for their Hibiscus both hybrid and hardy .... pretty popular plant.

Jim