I have 5 seedlings from two seed parents from a purported R virginiana that I purchased several years ago. The mother plant was a single, spotted, deep pink, almost maroon. I’m presuming it’s a hybrid. Sadly mamma is no longer with us due to neglect during a drought, and that nursery no longer carries R. virginiana. All four seedlings, 2 recurrent, from this cross are healthy despite neglect. The two that bloomed are different shades of deep fuchsia. All germinated indoors. I have one seedling of a different cross (Delany Sisters) that bloomed indoors this spring after two years in the fridge. It’s pale pink.
I obtained seeds of another R. virginiana from the same franchise (this one a pale pink), from a hybridizing buddy. With a couple of exceptions these seeds refused to germinate indoors, but those that eventually did, are healthy. The seeds potted outdoors germinated well enough, but in time all were hit quite severely with mildew which is not common in my conditions, although this spring was long, cold & rainy. Despite the mildew, they are growing. Some have fuzzy stems which would indicate hybridity either from the nursery or my friend’s garden.
My questions are - apart from hardiness, what are the benefits of breeding with R. virginiana? Is mildew common in young seedlings? Will it persist? And what are your experiences in breeding with R. virginiana? I’m aware of Joyce Flemings hybrids.