| Positive | Monocromatico | On Apr 27, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:Last year an article was published, announcing the success on crossing the endangered North American species Franklinia alatamaha with the Chinese Schima argentea, resulting in a tough hybrid that was more suited for horticulture than its parental species. This hybrid was called xSchimlinia floribunda.
This new hybrid represents a hope for the survival of F. alatamaha, which faces many difficulties outside its natural habitats. Also, this hybrid was revealed as a great plant, mixing the best qualities of its parents.
It is a fast growing shrub or small tree that reachs 4 meters in about 2 years, from seed - the experimental plants were cultivated in North Carolina, giving an idea about how hardy it is. It has long, dark green leaves, larger than Franklinia´s. There are 1 to 4 flowers per leaf axil, instead of only one of Franklinias. These flowers are big, white, and scented. The filaments are malformed, though, and it doesn´t produce fruits, sugesting that the only way to get new plants is by cloning, or obtaining new hybrids through the parental species. |
2 members have or want this plant for trade.
