Red Alert - Streaking?

[gesila9]

I've been meaning to pick this one up from Hallsons for two years now. For some reason, despite filling the car up with hostas, this one has never made it home with us.

I saw it yesterday at a nursery and told my DH to grab one. I didn't notice the streaked shoots until I watered it this morning. Is this usual for Red Alert? I think there are at least two shoots that are streaked. Should I remove them?

[Diana]

Cool find!!! Yes, I would seperate them and see if they come back that way next year. So far my sports always return as the mother plant, but it is worth a try. What do you have to lose...and everything to gain.

-Diana

[jgh]

I saw a lot of variability in my batch of Red Alert - got them several years ago the first year they were available in wholesale. This one, though, looks really streaky. I'd divide it and try to keep it streaky and plant those seeds. It is from great heritage - the parent plant is Katsuragawa Beni which is one of the best solid-green with red up onto the leaves cultivars... vigorous and attractive. I haven't found Red Alert to be as vigorous, but its a nice plant... and the seeds from a streaked version should produce some very nice plants. If you are into breeding, I'd look at trying to breed it with a really ruffly plant. I'd love to see some Marilyn Monroe/streaked Red Alert crosses!

[redcrx]

Have you seen Red Alert flower? I get buds but they never open.

[jgh]

gosh - now that you mention it, Ed, I don't know! I know that when the parent plant, KB was released, it was highly touted for breeders as bringing new red genes into breeding programs as the original plant was identified in the wild. I guess I just assumed that, as a sport, RA is also blooming... I'll have to watch for that this year...