My best "pink" flowered hosta to date

[waldo]

I just wanted to share pictures of the best so far in my pink flower effort. This is from a seedling that I grew from seed that Ed shared with me, (Dostoyevsky selfed #1) with H. "Rosebud"for the pollen parent.

[Chris_W]

That's some great color!

[druff]

looks nice, are you going for pink or red?

[waldo]

I'm actually working on red, white, and blue. The pink is sort of a by product. I'm also trying to incorporate fragrance, re-blooming and branched scapes. This is a long term project and I probably won't live long enough to see much success.

[druff]

sounds like quite the challenge, i've been working on fragrance, i'm starting to make some progress on that.

reds sound tricky, are you selecting for anthocyanin type or are you selfing to refine the color

[waldo]

Hi druff, I am selecting for the anthocyanin as best that I can with the lack of information on the genetics involved. I am doing a lot of flying by the seat of my pants. I am working with Beet Salad,First Blush, FB progeny, Violetta, Dostoyevsky progeny and Evening Blush to name a few.

[redcrx]

How are you trying to get branching scapes.

[waldo]

Hi Ed, I am trying to include brancing scapes by introducing hostas that are known to have branched scapes. Some species have branched scapes and some cultivars do also. Some species are jonesii, tibae and tsushimensis.I have two of these three. Some cultivars that I have are 'Branching Out', 'Invincible' (occasionally), 'Navajo' and 'Toy Soldier'. My 'Toy Soldier' surprised me last summer with branched scapes, so I crossed it with 'Rosebud' and I have a pink flowered seedling with branched scapes. Unfortunately I didn't get any seed set maybe next year. I have included two pictures of an open pollinated 'First Blush' seedling with branched scapes, I apologize for the missing flowers but I am currently pollinating it. I have also included a picture of a side scape on 'Branching Out' that I am also pollinating.

[druff]

waldo,
have the read the paper called, 24 Anthocyanins of the genus of Hosta and their impacts on tepal colors?
its only a few cultivars but you might be able to find it useful for your needs.

[redcrx]

Hi Waldo, jonesii (in a pot) has never flowered for me, tsushimensis (in a pot) gives me tons of flower but no branching, I had tibae growing in the ground for years with lots of flowers but no branching - I finally went out and got a couple more and they branch. Branching Out give lots of branches but it has slug problems in my garden. Red October and tardiflora (longipes background) always branch for me. I had a seedling with OMT in it that branched but I lost it. I bought Navajo on a trip that included Wade and Gatton - had tons of branches in the greenhouse but hasn't branched since.