Mermaid

General Discussion
1

I was just wondering if anyone one has experienced this happening with this cultivar. I do not know how many years , I have tried to get Mermaid pollen to stick on selected seed parents, all failed. This year I changed to a different Mermaid in a different garden and presto, every pollination I did stuck.

2

Warren,

That is a very interesting observation. At first I wondered if it could be minute genetic differences between the two plants and then I wondered if minute nutritional or chemical differneces in the two plants based on their soil, the gardener’s feeding, cultivation, etc. Very very interesting from none to everyone.

Waiting to read the subsequent posts.



Thanks Warren,

jim p

3

Hello Warren, any chance of telling us/me what the seed parents are please.

4

Not with different plants of it, but definitely in different climates. Inland heat prevented Mermaid from setting any self set hips, yet right on the beach, it set them generously. Nothing ever germinated from them, but they set.

5

I recall some members in USA had attempted some embryo culture of Mermaid OP embryos…can’t recall exactly who, or where…

Any updates on that experiment?

6

Dave; one of those pollinated was Arahan, all the rest are unnamed seedlings which I use for breeding. Kim it is amazing what can happen from year to year, I have roses which were a little reluctant to set hips last year but this year it is a real bonanza.Jim P some time I wonder if there is a slight genetic difference between some plants making them slightly fertile than the other. I only use Mermaid as a pollinator, looks like there might be some offspring popping up in May some time

7

Warren, I have just looked up ‘Arahan’ again, looks great. What do you think will come out of the cross, colour wise. I know I am asking a lot, is there any chance of fragrance.

8

Dave I do not really know what will come out of Arahan X Mermaid , this is a completely new ball game for me when using Mermaid. Arahan has only a slight perfume, but most of its offspring tend to have strong myrrh fragrance no matter what you cross it with. Colour of the expected offspring would probably be white or whitish pink with veining on the petals.

9

As Mermaid is the pollen parent, would it not pass on "some " yelow. I do not know how this works, but would hope it would.

10

If the stated parentages are to be believed, Mermaid doesn’t seem to have passed on much of anything, yellow tones, particularly.

11

Howdy Kim;

What Iam really after is the R. bracteata side of it, blooms can be developed with later breeding.

cheers

12

Well, let’s try this again. I wrote a response, previewed it and tried to post it, but it appears to have gone no where. I realize we’re a world apart, Warren, but perhaps this summer I might be able to sneak you some pollen from either Muriel, Out of Yesteryear, Out of the Night or even Bracteata itself? I’ve heard of pollen going across this country on a QTip, think it would make it through to you and work?

13

The Mermaid I used last spring as a pollinator has done well, every thing has stuck except for the Carefree Beauty X Mermaid. Went out after work last week stem and hip had turned yellow. Really thought this one would have stuck, the others are doing fine " At the moment" .

14

Howdy Kim;

Thanks for the offer. I would like some pollen of Muriel for sure, I have access to a R. bracteata. If Muriel is producing bloom in Sept/ Oct it will coincide with my breeding cycle here in OZ.