On Dec 2, 2006, at 1:06 PM, James Waddick wrote: > I think subject of Manfreda x Polianthes hybrids is a > fascinating new topic, but it got me thinking. > > The author of the article on the hybrids suggests that these > crosses have been made before. Anyone grow any of these or are they > available commercially ? Since the author, Jon Lindstrom's, email address was in the article I thought I'd send a quick note asking him about this. He just answered and said that the hybrid pictured is currently in tissue culture and he plans on releasing it in the near future once he has a better sense of its winter hardiness. It survived one winter in Fayetteville, Ark., but he says that last winter wasn't a real test. He also attached a photo of a number of the blossoms from the results of a cross between Manfreda maculosa x Polianthes geminiflora. Some look like larger flared open P. tuberosa blossoms in various shades of orange to orange-red. A few looked like smaller than average Manfreda blossoms but with either a very light orangey-white color or a medium orange color. Very nice looking. He says some of those hybrids are in tissue culture as well. Can't wait till they're available...! --Lee Poulsen Pasadena, California, USA, USDA Zone 10a