Hibiscus Seedlings | Varuna Garden

an abstract blue image with a shallow depth of field

Fun Facts

2

Seedlings from the first year I started cross pollinating (2020). Manjari and Madhavi

44

Seedlings have bloomed so far from the seeds sown from the 2021 crosses

469

Cross pollinations in the year 2023 from Jun to Dec.

121 seed pods harvested

700

Seeds sown from the 2023 crosses. 300+ have germinated

This gallery presents a record of hibiscus seedlings that have bloomed as a result of my personal cross-pollination experiments. My initial foray into cross-pollinating hibiscus began with readily available nursery varieties from 2020 to 2022. This deliberate choice served two purposes: to facilitate learning through experience, to allow for potential setbacks during the early stages of seed-raising. Most importantly, it provided me with a foundational stock of seedlings to later experiment with more exotic varieties in future crosses.

This ever-evolving list showcases the results of my early efforts, and I'll be updating it regularly as more seedlings bloom, so be sure to check back! The list is current as of April 18, 2024. I am always happy to hear feedback on my experiments or answer any questions you may have.

Decoding the Labels:

Seedling Tag: Look for codes like "VBS31" where "VB" are my initials, "S" stands for seedling, and the number indicates its order of sprouting.
Parents: Below the tag, you'll find the proud parents listed. By convention, the "mother" (pod parent) comes first, followed by the "father" (pollen parent). Explore images of the seedling parents here.
Unk. for Unknown: If you see "Unk.", it means the pollen parent's identity remains a mystery.
Registered Cultivars: Some seedlings have blossomed into registered cultivars with official names like "Reshme Seere".
A Note on 2021 Seedlings: Unfortunately, my tagging practices in 2021 weren't as meticulous. For most of those seedlings, only the mother's identity is known.