Interesting answer Re: pigment in hosta leaves

[Justaysam]

I received this answer from Tony Avent this morning and thought I would share it. I Emailed him asking a few questions about my seedlings that are showing nice red coloring in the leaves.

"While soil and temperature can enhance the expression of the purple
(anthocyanin) pigment, it appears from the photo that this is due to
the
cross you made and not to environmental factors. The only way to know
for sure is to grow it out longer. More than likely the pigment
expression will disappear once the weather warms and the anthocyanin
begins to break down, but should return each spring. This could be
very interesting...keep us posted."

So, it will prob. fad, but may return each spring.

[Mary Ann]

Good luck with that one, Linda. It sure is unique the way it looks now.

[Justaysam]

Thanks Mary Ann, kind of like I thought, it will be gone as soon as it gets outside into a real soil garden bed with mother nature. I have another little one that has like a little purple finger sticking up out of the center. I can't wait for that leaf to come up enough to see.

[eastwood2007]

Cool! Be positive, if it only does it in the spring, it is still something new! It really looks cool!

[Linda P]

It would be great if that color would return every spring, even if it doesn't stay all year.
Good luck with those babies!!!
Linda P

[John]

Reminds me of my 'Lovely Loretta' last year. The hosta showed similar red-purple coloring soon after unfolding, but it did disappear later. Kept a careful eye on it this year, but no sign of the coloring; I guessed it had to do with temperatures...

Hope yours is the start of something special!!!

[pauhaus]

That looks really unique! Good luck with it and keep us posted on its progress.

[jgh]

cool! Put on an old Carly Simon album and get ready for a long year's anticipation!

[renaldo75]

Sounds like you've got Tony interested in these seedlings, Linda. If I were you when it came time to do some crosses, I'd be crossing these 4 seedlings you have showing the purple with each other. Try to intensify the purple coloring as much as you can. That's how Eric Smith got the 2nd & 3rd generations of the Tardianas - by crossing the 4 from the 1st generation with each other.

[Jamie]

I received this answer from Tony Avent this morning and thought I would share it. I Emailed him asking a few questions about my seedlings that are showing nice red coloring in the leaves.

"While soil and temperature can enhance the expression of the purple
(anthocyanin) pigment, it appears from the photo that this is due to the cross you made and not to environmental factors. The only way to know for sure is to grow it out longer. More than likely the pigment expression will disappear once the weather warms and the anthocyanin
begins to break down, but should return each spring. This could be very interesting...keep us posted."

So, it will prob. fad, but may return each spring.

I'm confused. First he says doesn't think it's from the soil or weather but from your crossing and then says it'll lose the color after it warms up. What I believe is Tony or anyone doesn't know much about red in hostas, yet..

[Jaspersail]

Linda,

From the pic, it looks like this may be a scape leaf, not a true leaf from the crown. Is that the case? If so, the scape leaves often do show lots of red, especially if the flowers and scape are quite red.

Can you clarify where this leaf is coming from? And can you show a pic of the whole plant?

Thanks, John

[maidofshade]

Even if it is only for a short time--how unique!!

[thehostagourmet]

Jamie, Tony is saying the same thing Bob Solberg has said in his Hosta College classes. The red pigment in Hostas, at least one of the two which might appear (I believe two is right, but it's from memory.) is subject to breakdown in heat. So a red-stemmed Hosta isn't so red-stemmed in the heat of summer, or when planted without much shade.

George

[Justaysam]

Thanks guys, I just thought it was interesting what he had to say. Reldon, I have H. Purple Haze, and was thinking of trying it's pollen on them, but I think your suggestion would make more sense at first. I prob. should stay withing this batch before trying to introduce more genes into the mix.

John, I don't think it is a scape, it is coming from the center of the seedling. the plant above is almost all green, has a bloom, and just a slight streaking on that one. The others are streaked babies. I will take and post the whole plants, but I am still working for the day, I work from home, but still have stuff to do. I will get them posted this evening.

[Jamie]

Thanks George but it's still confusing how Tony put it.. If this isn't from the temps "Like Tony's Are" then it should hold it's color longer in warmer temps if given the right shade?. I'm not sure any hosta holds it's true color in heat though.

Linda are you seeing red in the petioles? What were the growing condition temps? What I'm getting at is if this isn't from cold or soil and is genetic then this should hold it's color in warmer temps.. I do hope it's genetic and will stay this color for you

[John]

wouldn't warm weather would be an environmental factor...

Anyway, it is absolutely fascinating, and I hope the effect lasts!

I agree with the idea of crossing these amongst themselves to enhance the coloring. Amazing things may well happen in a generation or two.

[largosmom]

Anthocyanin discussion. Would be interesting to separate some eyes in a red colored clump of hosta and see if differnces in pH or something other than lighting makes a difference in intensity.

http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/detailed. ... t=4&cat=37