Description
Some years ago, I attempted to cross the very bright red Zephyranthes katherinae rubra with the easily grown Habranthus tubispathus. I made the cross both ways knowing that hybrid offspring were as unlikely as they were tempting. Seed using Zephyranthes as the female parent did not set. Seed involving carefully emasculated Habranthus as female parent did set and we had our first flowers after 3 years. Habranthus tubispathus usually dominates any crosses using it as a female parent, or it simply makes apomictic seed (seed produced without the male parent actually being involved) which is identical to the mother plant.
The offspring of our possible cross (using H. tubispathus as a male parent), that have flowered, show little, if any, influence of the Z. katherinae and look very like H. tubispathus but, remarkably, they are a showing a different shade to the usual Habranthus so perhaps something did happen after all and perhaps it is a Zephybranthus. About 10% of them have flowered so far and some typical plants, from our stock, are illustrated. It may be my imagination, but I am of the opinion that the anthers of this possible cross are not presenting in 3-4 ranks, the way that Habranthus usually do, nor are the flowers as inclined as H. tubispathus, but that could, I confess be wishful thinking as much as it could be careful observation.
In case any cynics are already thinking that I am building this up, for a big price, I am not. We are clearing our Rainlilies to make space for other bulb seedlings, so that are offering the possible Zephybranthus stock at the same price a ordinary H. tubispathus and also as probably being H. tubispathus but with the potential, perhaps, to display some colour variation or something unusual. If it is a cross then you might expect something better still in the second generation (if you raise it from seed). However I do stress there are no guarantees, we are offering this as H. tubispathus, but you can read the story above and it is at the same price as the cheaper parent for those that like a dabble.
An easy going plant like its H. tubispathus parent which makes a dependable display each year. Needs to be under frost-free glass in the UK however any fertile, well-drained soil seems suitable.
