JungleShadows said:
Peter's web site is certainly the most up-to-date and researched and I thank him for trying to keep things in order. It is no easy business in a genus known for misnamed plants! When Toby and I decide on the next group of names I will send Peter more photos and descriptions for his site.

What we really need is a society with a designated registrar. Maybe after the iris convention is over next spring I can try to organize a Sempervivum Society again.

Kevin, I'm honored about your commendation

I don't know if a new society would work; there are a lot of breeders who won't care about such an institution and a lot of them wouldn't even know about it;

besides this society would have to check if a new cultivar is unique and hard for the winter; so the breeders have to send new ones to the society to check them; I don't think they would do that.....

furthermore the society needs a global view over all known cultivars for comparison; there are more then 4.500 up to date....I don't think it's workable;

Peter

Peter,

The other plant societies don't collect the plants nor do they decide on the merit of any particular plant. What they do is to make sure there are no duplicate names and collect information on the hybridizer and any pedigrees of the plants.

Of course the purpose of any society is not just registration but a way for enthusiasts to gather at meetings and receive publications on that subject. This could even be done as a totally email/ internet things so cost would be minimal. Even long standing societies like the American Iris society are doing e-memberships these days.

In the US we are SO spread out that this might be a better plan. In Europe the enthusiasts are much more concentrated. In Germany alone you could have a very active group.

Kevin

JungleShadows said:

The other plant societies don't collect the plants nor do they decide on the merit of any particular plant. What they do is to make sure there are no duplicate names and collect information on the hybridizer and any pedigrees of the plants.

that's what we do on our homepage ;-)

the german breeders look at our homepage or ask us for names;

but there are still some breeders who won't look or ask at all because they are away from every contact to other breeders, homepages or societies;

for example Sue Thomas never had contact to any other breeder before we have discovered her.....so she named one of her cultivars Waterlily - but that name has been given to a cultivar from Hugo Philips (BE) in 1988;

and I don't think she would change this name if any society will say so;

also she refused to give any information about the parents of her hybrids; maybe she's worried that other people may copy her breeding-lines!?

Peter

Peter,

Yes there are always those who "don't follow the rules". It makes life tougher for those who do. No system is perfect and even when Peter Mitchell was registrar people ignored him regularly. Hiding the pedigrees always made me laugh! Of course as you well know, even if you make the same cross the chances of getting something similar to your hybrid is fairly slim. As Lynn can tell you, in some of my seedling rows the variety even from a single cross is amazing. the 'Killer' X 'Jungle Shadows' group was amazingly diverse. i almost made that cross again as there so many pretty ones but rather decided to cross some of the Killer and Jungle Shadow seedlings with each other. Think that could be even more amazing.

Of course registration is not the only reason for a society. Things like having an award system, judging standards, plus a place to put out new information on these plants is what keeps these societies together. And of course there is a lot of Sempervivum history that is known only by a few of us old timers that will be lost forever unless it's put to paper. I know Lynn and Cynda were fascinated with my collection of the SFAN and Sempervivum Society publications and how many things of interest were in them.

Several have been twisting my arm to do a book. Maybe it's time for one.

Kevin

It's time Kevin, it's time.

When you have the time Kevin, a book would be fascinating!!
Peter - you have me so curious about what prompts Sue Thomas to not give the pedigree of her semps...I wonder if she doesn't know??? Maybe she's doing the Skrocki method too! (throwing thousands of seed out and seeing what happens!)

Yeah Greg, that was the first thing I thought too (that she was using something along the lines of the Skrocki method.)

A book would be amazing Kevin!

Kevin;
I like the idea of a Sempervivum-Society; I only want to mention the weakness;
the collection of the SFAN and Sempervivum Society publications are a good source of informations; I have them all on my computer; but there is only little time to work them through because the actual informations are time-killing;

would be great to have a Sempervivum-book from you
that can be a very good reading material for collecters and newbies;

in Germany Martin Haberer has made one and I helped with informations and photos; and there is and old one from Dr. Fritz Köhlein with a lot of older descriptions and photos - we often consult it on researches;

Greg; my english sempsfriend told me that Sue has detailed recordings of her breeding-lines; but he never get a look into it;

Peter

Kevin, a book would be great!!!! Not much out there in the way for semp books. Peter, is Martin's book available in the US. What are the names of the 2 books you referenced? Maybe in German language only?

springcolor said:Peter, is Martin's book available in the US. What are the names of the 2 books you referenced? Maybe in German language only?

both are only in German language and not available in the US....

Peter,

Thanks for your kind words!

Do you know how I might obtain Martin Haberer's book? I don't read German but I would like to see how he approached the subject and how he handled the multitude of hybrids!

There was a hosta grower that stole many plants from my friend Florence and me and MADE UP PEDIGREES to put them in the registration books. To me that is worse than saying NOTHING. Still it is ODD that anyone would keep the pedigrees a secret. It is impossible to recreate a cultivar from seed.

Kevin

Kevin, you may contact Martin himself;

http://www.martinhaberer.de/

maybe he can send you an exemplar!?

sometimes it's available at ebay; but I don't know if it's available for America....

Looks like you can find it on Amazon used books - I goggled martin haberer Sukkulenten and kakteen
and it came up.

Thank you Peter! I just ordered it on amazon.com! Can't wait to see it.

After I finish my book on beardless irises (due to the publisher on August 1st!!) I will start thinking about doing one on the semps. I would do it on them ALONE although I do work with the hardy sedums too.

Today I had one of the descendants of the famous English plant breeder Pritchard. He said his grandfather grew thousands of alpines each year and raised all sorts of seedlings, looking for new varieties. some of these hybrids are still grown around the world. I showed him a couple of the semps cfrom my youth and he said "pretty impressive for a 12 year old!". He enjoyed the new hybrids too. Anyway, so interesting to meet plant people from all over the world.

Kevin

Sounds exciting Kevin!!

It would be wonderful if you would write a book Kevin!!