I did a cross using Charles Austin X Vanilla to get thornless roses, which was achieved. The thing is the OP hips of this cross are so fertile, the hips have split due to the large numbers of seed inside ( looks like a pomegranite ripening). This cross will be used in the breeding programme of thornless roses ( have developed 5 other lines of thornless roses) with this fertility I dont think I will have any trouble getting seed from this one.
Has any one seen this sort of thing happen, first time for me.
Nothing to worry about Warren. I’ve had it happen many, many times. I couldn’t tell any difference once the seeds were planted. Kim
Its really common on Lagerfeld, Midas Touch, and Sheer Elegance. Some roses do it regulary, especially those with larger blooms.
Thanks Kim and Michael, looking at the hip I reckon every achene in it was fertilized and took, almost all the others are the same. Michael the bloom is quite big, yellow and cupped.
Ebb Tide did that for me (ET X Hot Cocoa). Lots of exogenous achenes there. Embryos were fertile.
We have experienced this many times. Sort of like putting 10 # in a 5# bag. Several years ago we planted the exogenous ones in a separate tray to see - didn’t notice any difference in the germination rate.