Unlimited Potential, Part II

Primulina - Unknown, First Flowers

       
           A great Primulina clone was shown with unlimited potential and many knowledgeable growers are on the trail of its proper name.  These flowers opened from buds in two days.  Flower faces are distinctive.  Maybe this will settle it?

Primulina Unknown, 1.5" long

Primulina, Unknown, 1 1/4" wide

Primulina, Unknown, Bud count - 13

          The  working theory is that it is P. 'Diane Marie' or a sibling of the original cross.  Here is the description from registration by Bob Stewart in 1994.

Primulina ‘Diane Marie’. 1994, IR94481 Robert Stewart. [Stewart, 1990] (P. dryas (C. sinensis)‘Angustifolia’ x P. species). Plant is a flat rosette; leaves green (RHS 137 A) with extensive silver on veins; petiole 3-4 cm long, faintly reddish. Leaf blade 6-8 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, hairy; ovate, acute tip, base cuneate, margin double toothed. The calyx red (59A), split; pedicel 3 cm long; peduncle 4 cm long with 4 flowers on each peduncle. Corolla 6 cm long, 3 cm in diameter, violet (88C) with white in the throat, violet stripes extending onto lip, yellow lines from anther, and yellow spot at tip center. Flower similar to C. sinensis var. angustifolia but larger and darker, and the plant is much more compact, with flat instead of upward leaves which are ovate instead of lanceolate. Blooms in December and sporadically in other months. First listing 1994, CODA Gardens catalog.

Constant Exposure Makes Hits!

Primulina 'Loki' -  Hybridized and Grown by Peter Shalit

Constant exposure makes hits. 

I’m reading the book, Hit Makers by Derek Thompson which main theme is to make a song popular, you must play it over and over until everybody likes it.  This trick has been known for years, which is why record companies paid radio stations to play songs----Payola.

            The author argues that we humans seek the ‘New’ but we buy the ‘Familiar’.  The best strategy is to relate the new to the old.  My tag line is perfect:  ‘Asian violets are like African Violets, but better!’

            How many times must you see Asian Violets to feel like you know about them?

            First, buy one, grow it.  Tell your friends--- Over and over until everybody likes it.

Unlimited Potential...

Primulina loaded up with buds

             “There’s no greater burden than unlimited potential”                                                       --- Snoopy from Charlie Brown.

            This unidentified Primulina is loading up with buds and will be spectacular soon.  There will be multiple blue flowers.

            This gives hope that Asian Violets could be a commercial flowering crop.  The problem remains that it is more than a year old.

            There is a limited market for Premium Hanging Baskets.  It could be worth growing 50 of these and see?