2019 ASHS Annual Conference

The genus of Pavonia Cavanilles is usually found in tropical and subtropical areas and is likely the largest genus in the Malvaceae. The parents of the new interspecific hybrid are P. lasiopetala (maternal) and P. missionum (paternal). Pavonia lasiopetala is a small shrub with a woody base reaching around 1-1.2 m in height. It is native to Texas and northern Mexico and inhabits dry, rocky soils. Flowers are pink to rose-red (RHS 68A) and around 40 mm in diameter with a yellow staminal column. Pavonia missionum is a perennial shrub native to South America, specifically Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Shrubs are 1-2 m tall with the same width. Flowers are orange-red (RHS 33A) in color with a yellow staminal column. The new hybrid carries unique traits and can potentially be used as a landscape plant. From 60 initial crosses made in Fall 2017, 83 seed were obtained and 26 germinated in 2018. Six of these seedlings showed novel traits while the remaining seedlings appeared identical to the maternal parent. The six hybrid seedlings are morphologically intermediate to both parents. Leaves are 2-6 cm long, slightly longer than wide with an acute apex, cordate leaf base, dentate to crenate margins, and an overall cordate leaf shape. Flowers are solitary and located in the leaf axis with 1-2.5 cm long pedicels and five lanceolate involucellar bracts with 7-9 × 2-2.5 mm in size. Flowers measure 35-45 mm in diameter with petioles 1.5-4 cm in length. Four of the new hybrids show red color flowers (RHS 46B) and the remaining two hybrids show red-purple color flower (RHS 57C). Since the new hybrid is an interspecific hybrid, it produces little to no pollen and no seed set was observed in 2018. Since the six interspecific seedlings appear to be sterile invasiveness should not be a problem and plants will be reproduced from vegetative cuttings. The performance of the six hybrids will be evaluated in 2019 for potential release as cultivars.