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| Primulina 'Aiko' |
Story # 140,
Maybe a few thousand people in the
World know what a Primulina is. Hobbyists
who may be growing this obscure Genus from Asia have their own opinions about
the worth of this African Violet relative. Even the
Gesneriad flower shows have had to compensate for the long delay in flowering
by having judged classes both for in flower and not in flower.
Because they can be grown as
attractive foliage plants gives hope that Primulinas could be a commercial crop.
But where will the new varieties
come from? Who will champion the plants
to develop the market, improve the variegation, shorten the flowering time, add
new flower colors or develop faster production techniques?
In the computer tech business,
venture capital bets on the next Big Thing.
No such thing in horticulture.
The rewards are too small. No
horticulture company can be cashed in with an IPO.
Progress will have to come from
curious hobbyists who like to create something new. That’s where the existing hybrids have come
from.
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