Are daylilies of unknown parentage taboo?

[Chris_W]

I have a question for the daylily experts and aficionados. With all of the thousands of daylilies introduced, is it frowned upon or even taboo to introduce plants of "unknown parentage", ie. open pollinated seedlings?

The reason I'm asking is that we have one particular seedling that came up next to our crop of Fragrant Treasure that is a fragrant slightly golden yellow, just a little darker then Fragrant Treasure. It is the same flower size, a little taller, and it starts flowering about 1 to 2 weeks before Fragrant Treasure and keeps going all summer. We noticed it 3 summers ago and last year it flowered like crazy. This year it is full of branching scapes, one scape has 10 buds on it, and we've had several customers ask which one this is. Granted, we aren't talking about daylily customers but perennial lovers who enjoy the ones that keep on flowering all summer.

So would we be crazy to sell a seedling like this? If people hadn't asked about it we probably would just enjoy it ourselves. Next to it is another plant that is pink with an eyezone and there is another that is almost identical to the color of Stella De Oro (yuck) and they all appear to be from Fragrant Treasure - same size, flower shape and form, same fragrance, but I'm not too crazy about the pink one (the other will be pitched).

What do you think?

[caliloo]

If you have customers who are interested in it, I would introduce it. You may not retire on the proceeds but if it makes people happy then what is the harm?

Alexa

[Patrushka]

No expert but I guess I could qualify as an aficonado. I agree with Alexa. If it makes people happy, go for it. I was outside, just the other day, sniffing my Fragrant Treasure.

[Tundra_Queen]

Chris are u going to post pics of it in flower? Cause it sure sounds pretty!

[kHT]

http://www.daylilies.org/

Chris; each species has their own regs on what they require to register or how they do business. I'd personally check with them?

[Phil]

i love daylilies and couldn't care less if a named daylily was OP. IMO if the plant has merit enough to register that's all that matters.

[kHT]

Phil, I used to feel the same way until folks pointed out why this is important and being responsible about growing each species. I don't want to come off as a plant
snob but to some it's important to keep this all straight. So many times we have seen folks change names to sell as money was their rule of thumb? I know Chris wants
to do the right thing here. If t's a cross then name the parents, if it's a NOID then label it that way.

[Chris_W]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still on the fence about this one, but with multiple customers now asking about this one, I'm leaning towards propagating it. I know it is a seedling from Fragrant Treasure and after seeing the other seedlings from this plant I think it would be worth working with it intentionally for other long blooming plants

[Ed_B]

Chris
I'm a daylily nut, and I see lots of unknowns get registered all the time.
All anyone wants to know is if it's a diploid or tetraploid, pretty face helps it sell.
Ed

[viktoria]

I think we have entirely too many registered daylilies already and hundreds if not thousands of them indistinguishable from others. I use my seedling hostas that I do not consider worthy of introduction (too similar to others already registered) as freebies to good customers if they ask for them. Why not just sell your hem to those who ask for it?

Viktoria

[Buckeye]

I would get the opinion of professional hybridizers on it. There are 2 hybridizers and official Hem Society display gardens within 8 miles of my house, so if you send me a piece of it I can take it to them and see what they have to say. Hahaha.

[kHT]

Chris, It would read

Fragrant Treasure X OP (open pollinated) X whatever you cross it with.

[John]

Technically, you can't be sure if FT was the pod or the pollen parent, so you'd have to register it as unknown x unknown (since you couldn't place the name of FT properly.] You could of course provide the information that your plant is most likely out of FT elsewhere.

[kHT]

Thanks John, I knew you would know the correct terms.