Posted by Hans Prins
on 10/29/2009, 12:17 am, in reply to "Re: hybridisation (cheers from Brazil!)"
81.206.21.140
Hello Gus, thanks for sharing your view! The cold hardiest species here is without doubt E. debeuzevillei. Even after a sudden drop in temperature in march 2005 down to -22 °C, these trees suffered only some dieback of branches. All other species in my collection froze back to the ground, and only E. neglecta recovered very well.
If I were in the forestry research, I would certainly try to hybridise E. delegatensis with E. debeuzevillei (or regnans x debeuzevillei)in order to increase frost tolerance and extend the area for eucalyptus forestry significantly further north. But I am in horticulture ... My aim is to introduce hybrids that:
- flower at a young age in different colours with showy flowers
- have a good, bushy shape (i.e. not leggy as in pulverulenta)
- can be propagated with cuttings or grafts
- are hardy in zone 7 (most important aspect)
The first crosses I think of are between the very hardiest members of the gunnii-group and leucoxylon Rosea.
Which one would be the best choice for female parent? Or would you suggest to use both parents for hybrid-seed production in the beginning?
Gus, have a safe flight back. I hope you are not troubled by the problems of Iberia!
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