Viewing post #1569657 by Char

Well shoot, I certainly wasn't trying to discourage anyone from growing cristate forms! Personally, I think Sculpted forms are the most interesting, fun and exciting form to grow and hybridize. The seedlings continue to surprise me with what they will do. There's no reason to jump the gun and get rid of yours Nancy. Give them a chance to really settle in and then decide, if nothing else you could make some seeds As far as I know Bee's Bob Baker is pollen fertile. I haven't grown it, but either purchased or was gifted seeds of a TFF x BBB cross years ago. There are other cristate cultivars that are reliable producers of cristate blooms. As I mentioned Texas Feathered Fancy might be a good diploid to try, a 2006 intro so you should be able to find it reasonably priced. I don't grow Greetings Earthling or Emperor's Crocodile two of the newer diploid cristates, so can't comment on them. Wooster Mindcraft was new here this summer. We both will see how Dan Patch does next year. Tiki God is a tet. Of the tets I grow the most consistently cristate for me have been Cabbage Patch, Extra Effort, Lady's Corsage, Little Big Ears, Southport, System of Edges, Tarpon Back and Two Views. Some of these were hybridized in the south and may do well for you, too.

I do the same thing, try to grow plants that are not suited to grow here. Surprising some actually grow pretty good if they get through the first few years. All it will take is one bad winter though and poof they'll be gone. (I so want a palm tree.... )