Sol, I'll try to get some photos tomorrow.
I think in order to really see what a new semp can do, it has to be grown in lots of sun, and room to grow. Many of them change from one year to the next before they settle into what the mature colors and form will be. Should be able to tell by the third year.
I think I planted 8 crosses this year, the rest of the seeds from last year I gave to Dan. That is all I have room for.
It is easy to get caught up in loving our baby seedlings. We find something wonderful in almost all of them. Then reality sets in when we start evaluating them with a critical eye.
1. Is the color washed out/plain.
2. Is the form mediocre.
3. Is it a vigorous grower, or does it have problems with leaf die off, or just look unthrifty.
4. Does it do well in full summer sun.
5. Does it stay healthy looking in winter/spring ice, cold, wet.
6. Does it offset well. For me, I am okay with 8 or so per year, but commercially more is better.
7. Does it look a lot like another cultivar.
I am probably missing some points in this assessment. Feel free to add to the list.
